Increasing North American Competitiveness through Regulatory Cooperation
Imposing and threatening new tariffs have generated many headlines in recent years, whether it involved the United States’ North American neighbors, its partners in Europe or its competitors in Asia, especially China. Much less attention has been given to divergent approaches to regulations and standards, which often pose significant barriers to trade and limit competitiveness.
As a major global marketplace, North America must address these issues forthrightly. North America trades over $2.6 billion a minute and has built impressive and resilient co-production value chains to support its economic prowess. But improvements in regulatory cooperation could provide a major boost to the benefits that the continent gains from the economic partnership among the US, Canada, and Mexico.
This essay is part of the series, "Strengthening North American Ties - A Must For Competitiveness," by the Wilson Center's Mexico and Canada Institutes.
About the Author
Inu Manak
Mexico Institute
The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute. Read more
Canada Institute
The mission of the Wilson Center's Canada Institute is to raise the level of knowledge of Canada in the United States, particularly within the Washington, DC policy community. Research projects, initiatives, podcasts, and publications cover contemporary Canada, US-Canadian relations, North American political economy, and Canada's global role as it intersects with US national interests. Read more
