Independent Task Force on North America
Encyclopedia
Economic integration
Economic integration refers to trade unification between different states by the partial or full abolishing of customs tariffs on trade taking place within the borders of each state...
and social integration
Social integration
Social integration, in sociology and other social sciences, is the movement of minority groups such as ethnic minorities, refugees and underprivileged sections of a society into the mainstream of societies...
between Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a region. It is a group of prominent business, political and academic leaders from the U.S., Canada and Mexico organized and sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
(U.S.), the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
Canadian Council of Chief Executives
The Canadian Council of Chief Executives is an organization in Canada of chief executive officers of roughly 150 major Canadian corporations. The organization was founded in 1976 as the Business Council on National Issues, but renamed itself in 2001. The council actively comments on public...
, and the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations
Mexican Council on Foreign Relations
The was established the 22 November 2001. So far, it is the only plural and multidisciplinary forum, focused in the debate and analysis of Mexico’s role in the world and the growing influence of international events on the national agenda. The Council is a civic association, nonprofit and...
. It was co-chaired by former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, John Manley
John Manley
John Manley may refer to:* John Manley , English soldier, MP and Postmaster General* John Manley, Canadian politician* John Manley , British archaeologist* John H. Manley, American nuclear physicist...
, former Finance Minister of Mexico, Pedro Aspe
Pedro Aspe
Pedro Carlos Aspe Armella is a Mexican economist. He served as secretary of finance in the cabinet of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, where he successfully renegotiated foreign debt, gave autonomy to the central bank and promoted a controversial privatization plan.Aspe Armella is the son of Pedro Aspe...
, and former Governor of Massachusetts and Assistant U.S. Attorney General William F. Weld.
It was launched in October 2004 and published Task Force Report #53 entitled, Building a North American Community (May 2005). As well as it accompanying Chairmen’s Statement, Creating a North American Community (March 2005). A press release called Trinational Call for a North American Economic and Security Community by 2010 preceded the publications on March 14, 2005.
The final report proposed increased international cooperation
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
between the nations of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, similar in some respects to that of the European Community that preceded the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU). As this report states, "The Task Force's central recommendation is establishment by 2010 of a North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n economic and security community, the boundaries of which would be defined by a common external tariff
Common external tariff
When a group of countries form a customs union they must introduce a common external tariff. The same customs duties, import quotas, preferences or other non-tariff barriers to trade apply to all goods entering the area, regardless of which country within the area they are entering...
and an outer security perimeter."
Background
In the mid-nineteenth century, Blue Oval News reporter John RedpathJohn Redpath
John Redpath was a Scots-Quebecer businessman and philanthropist who helped pioneer the industrial movement that made Montreal, Quebec the largest and most prosperous city in Canada....
and Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
led a movement to merge Canada with the United States. However, the movement failed because it was massively opposed by the local constituents and by the British Empire. It had been encouraged by the Parti rouge
Parti rouge
The Parti rouge was formed in the Province of Quebec, around 1848 by radical French-Canadians inspired by the ideas of Louis-Joseph Papineau, the Institut canadien de Montréal, and the reformist movement led by the Parti patriote of the 1830s.The party was a successor to the Parti patriote...
of Rodolphe Laflamme. See also Montreal Annexation Manifesto
Montreal Annexation Manifesto
The Montreal Annexation Manifesto was a political document dated September 14, 1849 and signed in Montreal, Quebec, calling for Canada's annexation by the United States....
.
At the time of the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, in which the U.S. annexed California and New Mexico among other current states, there were supporters of the idea of annexing the whole of Mexico. This idea was finally rejected because of the higher population density in the non-annexed areas- a factor that would hinder assimilation.
In recent times, the three North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n nation-state
Nation-state
The nation state is a state that self-identifies as deriving its political legitimacy from serving as a sovereign entity for a nation as a sovereign territorial unit. The state is a political and geopolitical entity; the nation is a cultural and/or ethnic entity...
s have increased their economic ties, further accelerating the process with the signing of 1994's North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA).
In response to the demands of increasing globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
and shared concerns from abroad, such as the increasing clout of other economic spheres such as the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
and the proposed Middle Eastern Union, the leaders of the three nations agreed in 2005 to work more cooperatively on shared North American concerns. To this end, they agreed to establish the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was a region-level dialogue with the stated purpose of providing greater cooperation on security and economic issues. The Partnership was founded in Waco, Texas on March 23, 2005 by Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, Vicente Fox,...
(SPP).
Reception
In reference to this summit that established the SPPSecurity and Prosperity Partnership of North America
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was a region-level dialogue with the stated purpose of providing greater cooperation on security and economic issues. The Partnership was founded in Waco, Texas on March 23, 2005 by Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, Vicente Fox,...
, this task force's final report stated, "We welcome this important development and offer this report to add urgency and specific recommendations to strengthen their efforts." These specific recommendations include developing a North American customs union
Customs union
A customs union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with a common external tariff. The participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas...
, common market, investment fund, energy strategy, set of regulatory standards, security perimeter, border pass, and advisory council, among other common goals.
Robert Pastor
Robert Pastor
Robert Alan Pastor is a former US national security advisor and writer on foreign affairs.-Education:...
, one of this task force's vice-chairmen, has advocated such a monetary union and has suggested that North America's common currency might be called the "amero", which would be similar in concept to the EU's euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
.
On October 30, 2006, while speaking at the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute
Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute
The Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute was incorporated as a charitable organization in 2001. CDFAI is an independent “research institute/think tank” based in Calgary. It pursues new ideas to focus the national debate and understanding of Canada’s international policies with the ultimate...
(CDFAI) 2006 Annual Conference in Ottawa, former American Ambassador to Canada (2001–2005) and former Republican Governor of Massachusetts Paul Cellucci
Paul Cellucci
Argeo Paul Cellucci is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and US Ambassador to Canada.-Early life and career:...
indicated that, after further economic integration
Economic integration
Economic integration refers to trade unification between different states by the partial or full abolishing of customs tariffs on trade taking place within the borders of each state...
, a union would exist in everything but name:
Task Force Members
| Member Position | Name | Quick Bio of This Member (source of bio is listed) |
Other Articles/Papers Authored by This Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairs | John P. Manley John Manley John Manley may refer to:* John Manley , English soldier, MP and Postmaster General* John Manley, Canadian politician* John Manley , British archaeologist* John H. Manley, American nuclear physicist... |
Nortel | |
| William F. Weld | McDermott Will & Emery LLP | ||
| Pedro Aspe Pedro Aspe Pedro Carlos Aspe Armella is a Mexican economist. He served as secretary of finance in the cabinet of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, where he successfully renegotiated foreign debt, gave autonomy to the central bank and promoted a controversial privatization plan.Aspe Armella is the son of Pedro Aspe... |
Carnegie Corporation of New York | ||
| Vice Chairs | Thomas P. d'Aquino Thomas d'Aquino Thomas d'Aquino is a lawyer, entrepreneur, corporate director, educator and author. He is the former chief executive and president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives , an organization composed of 150 leading corporate chief executives and entrepreneurs... |
Canadian Council of Chief Executives | |
| Andres Rozental | International IDEA | ||
| Robert A. Pastor Robert Pastor Robert Alan Pastor is a former US national security advisor and writer on foreign affairs.-Education:... |
American University, Center for North American Studies |
National Legislatures within North America Congress and Mexico Toward a North American Community: Lessons from the Old World for the New |
|
| Director | Chappell Lawson | Political Science, MIT | |
| Other Task Force Members | Nelson W. Cunningham Nelson Cunningham Nelson Cunningham is an American lawyer and political advisor. He spent much of his childhood in Latin America, where he became fluent in Spanish. He attended Yale College and Stanford Law School, where he edited the law review. He subsequently worked for Hale and Dorr, a private law firm in Boston... |
American Security Product | |
| Wendy K. Dobson | University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management | ||
| Richard A. Falkenrath Richard A. Falkenrath Richard A. Falkenrath, Jr. was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Counter-Terrorism of the New York City Police Department on July 10, 2006. He is the third person to hold this position... |
NYPD Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs The MIT Press |
Grading the War on Terrorism, Foreign Affairs Shaping Europe's Military Order, The MIT Press Avoiding Nuclear Anarchy, The MIT Press America's Achilles' Heel, The MIT Press |
|
| Rafael Fernández de Castro | Woodrow International Center for Scholars Academic Resume EspacioUSA Vanguardia Latina |
Migration Issues: Raising the Stakes in U.S.-Latin American Relations The United States and Mexico |
|
| Ramón Alberto Garza | |||
| Gordon D. Giffin Gordon Giffin Gordon D. Giffin became the thirty-fourth Ambassador of the United States to Canada on September 17, 1997.Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Gordon Giffin moved to Canada before his first birthday. He lived in Montreal and Toronto for 17 years, attending Valois Park Elementary School in Pointe... |
Council of American Ambassadors McKenna Long & Aldridge Forbes |
||
| Allan Gotlieb Allan Gotlieb Allan Ezra Gotlieb, is a Canadian public servant and author.-Life and career:Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gotlieb received his BA from the University of California at Berkeley, his MA from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and his LL.B degree from Harvard University, where he was editor of... |
Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley Trilateral Commission |
Book list | |
| Michael Hart Michael Hart Michael Hart, Mike Hart, or Mickey Hart may refer to:* Michael Hart , British academic at Exeter College, Oxford* Michael Hart , British rower and participant in 1972 Summer Olympics... |
Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University Academic resume |
||
| Carlos Heredia Carlos Heredia Carlos Heredia is a Mexican economist born in Tampico, Tamaulipas in 1956. Heredia served as a Member of Mexico's 57th Congress from 1997 to 2000.... |
Woodrow International Center for Scholars | ||
| Carla A. Hills | Council on Foreign Relations Center for Strategic and International Studies |
||
| Gary C. Hufbauer | North American Convergence: An American Perspective The Trade and Investment Regime in the First Decade of the 21st Century Trade Strategy in the Bush Administration |
||
| Pierre Marc Johnson | Heenan Blaikie | ||
| James R. Jones | Council of American Ambassadors Manatt Jones Global Strategies Forbes |
||
| David McD. Mann | World Services Group: The Global Professional Services Network Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) |
Energy in the North American Market Conference (June 12, 2003), speech transcript | |
| Doris M. Meissner | Migration Policy Institute Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |
International Migration Challenges in a New Era Immigration and America's Future: A New Chapter by the Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future sponsored by The Migration Policy Institute, The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Statement of Doris Meissner to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon The United States |
|
| Thomas M.T. Niles | United States Council for International Business | ||
| Luis de la Calle Pardo | |||
| Beatriz Paredes | Center for Strategic and International Studies | Beatriz Paredes election campaign in Mexico (Spanish only) Paredes video talk (Spanish only) |
|
| Andrés Rozental | |||
| Luis Rubio | Center for Strategic and International Studies | ||
| Jeffrey J. Schott | Peterson Institute for International Economics | ||
| Raul Yzaguirre Raul Yzaguirre Raul Humberto Yzaguirre is an American civil rights activist. Currently a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he previously served as the president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza from 1974 to 2004. On November 30, 2009 he was nominated by President Barack H... |
Arizona State University | ||
See also
- Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration
- NAFTA - North American Free Trade AgreementNorth American Free Trade AgreementThe North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
- North American Competitiveness CouncilNorth American Competitiveness CouncilThe North American Competitiveness Council is an official tri-national working group of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America . It was created at the second summit of the SPP in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, in March 2006...
- North American currency union
- North American UnionNorth American UnionThe North American Union is a theoretical economic union, in some instances also a political union, of Canada, Mexico, and the United States...
- Security and Prosperity Partnership of North AmericaSecurity and Prosperity Partnership of North AmericaThe Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was a region-level dialogue with the stated purpose of providing greater cooperation on security and economic issues. The Partnership was founded in Waco, Texas on March 23, 2005 by Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, Vicente Fox,...