In late 2016, the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (USMCOC) announced the formation of the North American Working Group, comprised of members from the Chamber’s board of directors, including senior level executives from key sectors, and former
policy makers.
policy makers.
The group is focused on leveraging technology and innovation to enhance economic growth, promote employment, and ensure national and regional security. The Chamber will present the group’s review and recommendations to the executive and legislative branches of the governments of the three NAFTA partners.
Following the North American Working Group organizational meeting on December 9, 2016 in The Woodlands, Texas, several meetings were held in January and February 2017 in Mexico City, Monterrey and Saltillo, where the task forces further defined current challenges and recommendations.
The actions moving forward continue to be focused on protecting the U.S. and Mexico trade positions, enhancing economic growth, promoting employment and ensuring national and regional security, including:
Leveraging technology and innovation to impact the nations’ security, immigration, food supplies and workforce development;
- Analyzing the countries’ energy balance;
- Protecting and ensuring critical transportation and infrastructure assets along roads, rail, air and maritime;
- Reviewing international trade agreements in North America;
- Analyzing current state of offshoring high value technology jobs and impact on the North American talent pool; and
- Analyzing the extent of critical systems of North American companies being managed abroad.
The group has established preliminary recommendations in four categories:
1. Smart border
Ensure the private sector is adequately involved in the enabling of smart technology to meet current challenges.
Develop enhanced security and reliability in the transfer of goods and services:
Develop enhanced security and reliability in the transfer of goods and services:
- Delineate the security process by creating clearance zones;
- Expand the borders north and south;
- Collaborate and foster cross-border investments;
- Expedite document process with advanced email services and cybersecurity;
- Enhance integrated biometric tracking and other technologies to benefit users; and
- Promote funding initiatives at major commerce points.
2. Supply chain and manufacturing
Analyze and advise stakeholders about impacts of international trade, investments and trade agreements.
Enable workforce and talent pool through advanced programs on digital communications technology and technical education.
Trusted Trader/Tracker Program (“make, move and track”):
Enable workforce and talent pool through advanced programs on digital communications technology and technical education.
Trusted Trader/Tracker Program (“make, move and track”):
- A self-opt in, global entry model;
- Companies and employees vetted for fast track border crossing;
- Qualitative vetting processes;
- Goods and services are tracked from origin, mode of delivery and final destination;
- Data sharing among the partner countries; and
- Workforce and talent pool development.
3. Energy and utilities
Establish a North American Energy Consortium (NAEC).
Cross-border pipeline crossings.
Implement a smart dominated grid for renewable energy in the border region where energy demand and supply can cross national borders:
Cross-border pipeline crossings.
Implement a smart dominated grid for renewable energy in the border region where energy demand and supply can cross national borders:
- Fund renewable energy projects to satisfy the energy needs of the border region, powered by energy sources located throughout the región;
- Improve the electric grid for the cross-border region to improve quality of electric distribution to its residents;
- Implement cross-border, on-demand facilities; and
- Implement “smarts” in the large energy consumers in the region to measure and analyze demand.
4. Private-public partnership financing
Build solution provider ecosystem.
Bring together institutional investors (Build, Operate & Transfer “BOT”).
Create “user” investment model:
Bring together institutional investors (Build, Operate & Transfer “BOT”).
Create “user” investment model:
- Target border commuters for efficient and secure crossings;
- Recurring revenue stream—subscription/per crossing (i.e., Tijuana, Sam Zell); and
- Advocate PPP initiative to Congress.
North American Working Group looks at use of technology at Ericsson
On March 15, 2017, members of the USMCOC, together with Ericsson, hosted a follow-up meeting of the Chamber’s North American Working Group (NAWG) at the Ericsson offices in Plano, Texas. Ericsson, a global leader in communications technology, is playing an integral part in NAWG, sharing its relevant expertise and know-how to aid in the development and application of technology platforms and solutions to the problems and challenges being identified.
Ericsson hosted a dinner for the group on March 14, 2017. Brief welcome remarks were provided by Angel Ruiz and Johan Bjorklund of Ericsson, Al Zapanta of the USMCOC, and Woody Buckner. Keynote speaker, Sara Wilshaw, consul general of Canada in Dallas, addressed the group with a short and relevant synopsis of the Canadian economy, trade, and the NAFTA partnership.
The March 15 meeting, entitled Global Leadership Inquiry: SMART Border Infrastructure Initiative (SBII), was facilitated by Global Leadership Artist, Woody Buckner, who guided a productive session consisting of discussions and brainstorming on how we can come together in business and as individuals to move forward with a shared vision of improving the lives of people in North America.
The agenda of the meeting included a welcome by host, Johan Bjorklund, on behalf of Ericsson. Woody Buckner then provided an overview called Summit of Convergence” and outlined its objectives. Nikolaj Lippmann of Morgan Stanley followed with a presentation on NAFTA and the North American economic outlook.
The agenda of the meeting included a welcome by host, Johan Bjorklund, on behalf of Ericsson. Woody Buckner then provided an overview called Summit of Convergence” and outlined its objectives. Nikolaj Lippmann of Morgan Stanley followed with a presentation on NAFTA and the North American economic outlook.
Team Ericsson/Buckner representatives then made presentations on the evolution of the internet, the need for smart border infrastructure, real use cases that drive real commerce, and financing models driven by private/public partnerships.
Break-out sessions and presentations by the four groups included the following topics: A Smart Border, Supply Chain & Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, and PPP (Private, Public Partnerships).
Break-out sessions and presentations by the four groups included the following topics: A Smart Border, Supply Chain & Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, and PPP (Private, Public Partnerships).
The Smart Border group identified a use case in its discussions as the need to develop more security and reliability in the transfer of goods across borders. One significant problem in this regard is the long wait times for both people and goods movement, with consequent loss in productivity and working-capital days.
The use case for the supply chain and manufacturing segment was to create a trusted trader program. The related problem in this regard is how to develop constructive, prosperous, and balanced mutually-beneficial trade.
The use case for the energy and utilities topic was to capture and leverage smart energy at the border. The related problem is how to implement a smart, renewable-energy-dominated energy grid in the border region where energy demand and supply cross national borders freely.
The use case for the energy and utilities topic was to capture and leverage smart energy at the border. The related problem is how to implement a smart, renewable-energy-dominated energy grid in the border region where energy demand and supply cross national borders freely.
In the private, public partnership financing matter, the use case was to design and define an innovative finance program for the SBII (SMART Border Infrastructure Initiative). The problem identified was how to make North America more secure—ensuring the rapid and legal movement of people, goods and materials throiughout the NAFTA region.
NAWG will continue to move forward in order to position final recommendations that will be presented to the executive and legislative branches of the three NAFTA countries.