Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America

The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SSP), which celebrated its first anniversary in March 2006, "provides a framework ... to advance collaboration in areas as diverse as security, transportation, the environment and public health," according to the March 31, 2006, White House news release "The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Progress".

Representatives
Originally, the SPP was "headed by three top cabinet level officers of each country. Representing the United States are Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  Representing Mexico are Secretario de Economía Fernando Canales, Secretario de Gobernación Carlos Abascal, and Secretario de Relaciones Exteriores, Luis Ernesto Derbéz. Representing Canada are Minister of Industry David L. Emerson, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety, Anne McLellan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Stewart Pettigrew." 

Working Groups

 * Canada: Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
 * Mexico: Alianza para la Seguridad y la Prosperidad en América del Norte, Secretaria de Economia.
 * United States: Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Implementation
The SPP countries&mdash;Canada, Mexico and the United States&mdash;agreed March 23, 2005, to (as stated June 27, 2005):
 * North American Trusted Traveler Program. All three countries have agreed to create a single, integrated program for North American trusted travelers by 2008. Individuals applying for trusted traveler status would be able to apply for the program and pay relevant fees in one transaction. Enrolled participants would have access to all established trusted travel lanes at land crossings, airports and marine programs. A single North American Trusted Traveler Program embodies the intent of the SPP to establish optimum security goals while accelerating legitimate cross-border trade and travel. The U.S. will also be working cooperatively to identify Western Hemisphere travel document standards required under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
 * Preparedness and Incident Management Systems Integration. The United States, Canada and Mexico have agreed to transform North American preparedness for response to large-scale incidents by establishing protocols for incident management that impact border operations within 12 months. Protocols will also address maritime incidents, cross-border public health emergencies and cross-border law enforcement response. ... also committed to ensure interoperable communications systems and to participate in preparedness exercises that will strenuously test these protocols. In addition, the three countries will participate in a preparedness exercise in anticipation of the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympics.
 * Border Enforcement. The United States and Mexico will form joint intelligence-sharing task forces along the U.S.-Mexico border to target criminal gang and trafficking organizations and reduce violence along the border. ... The United States and Canada will coordinate maritime enforcement programs to address the huge volume of boat traffic in our shared waterways.
 * Facilitated Flow of Legitimate Cargo and Travel Across Land Borders. The United States, Canada and Mexico have agreed to review our transportation and border facility needs, in partnership with stakeholders, and develop a plan to prioritize future port-of-entry-related infrastructure investments.
 * Shared Watchlists and Integrated Traveler Screening Procedures. The United States, Canada and Mexico have agreed to strengthen information sharing related to terrorists and criminals. ... also agreed to establish compatible screening standards for land, sea and air travel to identify and prevent high risk travelers and cargo before they depart for North America. Additionally, recommendations will be made on the enhanced use of biometrics in screening travelers destined to North America.
 * Maritime and Aviation Security. The SPP countries will also be working toward comparable standards for hold baggage and passenger screening, implementing no-fly programs throughout North America, and developing new protocols for air cargo inspection. ... working to develop compatible maritime regulatory regimes and to strengthen information sharing and coordinated operations in the maritime domain.

Priority Initiatives
The following priority initiatives were stated in the March 31, 2006, White House news release and restated on the SPP website:
 * North American Competitiveness Council (Strengthening Competitiveness in North America)
 * North American Emergency Management
 * Advancing Cooperation on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza
 * North American Energy Security Iniative
 * North American Smart, Secure Borders

2005

 * Eric Green, News Release: "Bush Hosting March 23 Talks with Leaders of Mexico, Canada. Trilateral meeting to promote security, prosperity in region," U.S. Department of State, March 7, 2005.
 * News Release: "U.S. Officials Review Agenda for North American Trilateral Meeting. Bush, Martin, Fox will explore ways to enhance security, prosperity," U.S. Department of State, March 22, 2005.
 * News Release: "President Meets with President Fox and Prime Minister Martin," Bill Daniels Activity Center, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "North American Leaders Discuss Regional Partnership. Bush, Fox and Martin cite cooperation on security, prosperity," U.S. Department of State, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "Joint Statement by President Bush, President Fox, and Prime Minister Martin," White House, March 23, 2005.
 * "North American Leaders Unveil Security and Prosperity Partnership. Bush, Fox, Martin outline trilateral efforts during March 23 meeting," U.S. Department of State, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "North American Prosperity Depends on Security. United States, Canada, Mexico outline new security/prosperity pact," U.S. Department of State, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "North American Partnership Offers Agenda for Security. U.S., Mexico, Canada seek enhanced trade while fighting terrorism," U.S. Department of State, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "North American Partnership Offers Agenda for Prosperity. U.S., Mexico, Canada focus on trade, education, health, environment," U.S. Department of State, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "North American Leaders Unveil Security and Prosperity Partnership. Bush, Fox, Martin outline trilateral efforts during March 23 meeting," U.S. Department of State, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America Prosperity Agenda," White House, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America Security Agenda," White House, March 23, 2005.
 * Fact Sheet: "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America," White House, March 23, 2005.
 * News Release: "The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Progress," White House, March 31, 2006.
 * "Task Force Urges Measures to Strengthen North American Competitiveness, Expand Trade, Ensure Border Security," Council on Foreign Relations, May 17, 2005.

2006

 * News Release: "North American Energy Work Group Releases Updated Trilateral Energy Report," U.S. Department of Energy, March 2, 2006.
 * News Release: "The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Progress," White House, March 31, 2006.
 * News Release: "The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Next Steps," White House, March 31, 2006.
 * News Release: "Leaders' Joint Statement," Cancun, Mexico, March 31, 2006. Posted by Canada's New Government.
 * News Release: "Prime Minister Harper concludes Leaders' meetings in Cancun," Cancun, Mexico, March 31, 2006. Posted by Office of the Prime Minister.
 * News Release: "The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Next Steps," Cancun, Mexico, March 31, 2006. Posted by Office of the Prime Minister.

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Also see North American Union.

Documents

 * "Documents reveal 'shadow government'. Freedom of Information request puts 1,000 new pages online," WorldNetDaily, October 24, 2006. View documents here.

Reports

 * Report to Leaders, Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, June 2005. (38-page pdf)
 * Fact Sheet: "Security and Prosperity Partnership," U.S. Department of Homeland Security, June 27, 2005.
 * Marcela Celorio, "Working Paper: The North American 'Security and Prosperity Partnership': An Evaluation," Center for North American Studies, American University, March 28, 2006.
 * SPP Fact Sheet: "The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. Key Accomplishments since June 2005," SPP.gov, March 31, 2006.
 * "A Strategy for Our North American Partnership," Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Government of Canada, last updated September 15, 2006. Includes NAFTA map and statistics.

Articles & Commentary

 * "Trilateral Security and Prosperity Partnership Will Boost Jobs and Investment, Say Canada's CEOs," Canadian Council of Chief Executives, March 23, 2005.
 * Jerome R. Corsi, "North American Union Already Starting to Replace USA," Human Events Online, May 30, 2006.
 * Jan Allen, "The Security And Prosperity Partnership Places One's Life Savings At Great Risk," '321Gold', August 24, 2006.