Trade and Competitiveness

Cooperative Prosperity

North American competitiveness relies on prosperity across all three nations. Allocating resources and focusing development in strategic areas will have the greatest influence on minimizing existing disparities. The interdependency of these economies demands policy solutions that adequately harness the full potential of each country's resources and build upon each country's strengths.

The emergence of new coalitions in other parts of the world has begun to challenge the competitiveness of North America. The European Union, for example, is already the world's leading exporter and has the largest internal trading market. Moreover, much of Europe enjoys greater literacy, less poverty and longer life expectancies in comparison to North America. Additionally, Asian nations are playing a more active role in the global marketplace.

In North America, unilateral policy development, coupled with the unique issues faced by border communities, has created challenges to economic development, environmental sustainability and governance. NACTS seeks to provide actionable recommendations to the leaders of North America in order to improve the quality of life and competitiveness of the continent.

Key Initiatives

North American Transportation Competitiveness Research Council
One of the principal ways in which NACTS impacts competitiveness issues in North America is via its partnership with the North American Transportation Competitiveness Research Council, a network of research specialists in transportation, logistics and supply chain management from universities, think-tanks and companies in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Transportation Research Council examines issues central to the existence of an efficient and secure continental freight transportation system that will enhance North American competitiveness in the 21st century. Dr. Stephen Blank directs the NATCRC. More information on the NATCRC can be found at natcrc.org.

Commission for Environmental Cooperation Trade and Environment Symposium - April 22-25, 2008
NACTS has been selected to host the fourth North American Symposium on Assessing the Environmental Effects of Trade of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, a unique trinational institution that was established to complement the environmental provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). More information...

NACTS/Woodrow Wilson Center "Connective" Border Infrastructure Project - June 2008
The Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC and the North American Center for Transborder Studies are cooperatively sponsoring the development of a meta-estimate of "connective" infrastructure needs both across the border as well as between the south of Mexico and the interior and the north; a series of short white papers framing the issues; and a top-level discussion of innovations and collaborations across borders and sectors of civil society.

Southwest Border: Emerging Issues Minicourse - Jan. 7-9, 2008
The North American Center for Transborder Studies and the North American Transportation Competitiveness Research Council hosted a seminar on border issues at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona on January 7-9, 2008. This program familiarized graduate students and other participants with the current border situation and emerging freight transportation issues in North America from both a public and private sector perspective. The program included a presentation on the Nogales-Mariposa Port of Entry by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The minicourse was the second in an ongoing series sponsored by NACTS.