It wasn’t all play for Trudeau and Obama: Climate, trade and ISIL among policy agreements

Nationalpost.com
March 10, 2016
By Lee Berthiaume

It wasn’t all parties and elbow-rubbing as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama announced a plethora of new agreements and policies Thursday in Washington. Here’s what you need to know:

Climate change

Canada and the U.S. will sign the Paris Agreement to fight climate change on April 22, but that’s just the beginning. The leaders promised to finish new strategies for reducing greenhouse gases by the end of the year. That includes cutting harmful methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by up to 45 per cent by 2025. New regulations for motor vehicles are also on the table, as are plans to stop greenhouse gas emission growth in civil aviation.

The leaders committed to working closely on pushing renewable energy. They promised to look at ways to integrate such alternatives into continental energy grids and align energy efficiency standards to make it easier for the renewable and high-efficiency energy sector to grow.

The Arctic got special mention, as the leaders committed to protecting the region with several new initiatives. Those include reducing the environmental impact of shipping corridors, fishing and oil and gas development. They pledged to work closely with indigenous communities. There was no mention of the Northwest Passage, which the U.S. claims as an international waterway, or Russia and competing claims for the extended continental shelf.

The Arctic got special mention, as the leaders committed to protecting the region with several new initiatives. Those include reducing the environmental impact of shipping corridors, fishing and oil and gas development. They pledged to work closely with indigenous communities. There was no mention of the Northwest Passage, which the U.S. claims as an international waterway, or Russia and competing claims for the extended continental shelf.

The Border

Canadians travelling to the U.S. will be cleared by customs agents before crossing the border at more locations. The countries have agreed to expand pre-clearance to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport, as well as at train stations in Montreal and Vancouver. The U.S. already conducts pre-clearance operations at eight Canadian airports.

To deal with mistaken identities on no-fly lists and other border-related complaints, the countries have agreed to create a “Canada-U.S. Redress Working Group.” Some Canadian travellers, including children, who share similar names with people on security watch lists have encountered delays in travel.

Both countries have committed to implementing the final phase of a system for sharing basic biographic information on travellers entering a country by land or air, so it creates an exit record for the other country. So far the system has been limited to tracking third-party nationals and permanent residents of Canada and the United States. Full implementation is almost two years behind schedule. Some critics have raised privacy concerns.

Trade

Canadian and American government officials, business representatives and consumer groups will redouble efforts to synchronize safety requirements for everything from trains carrying crude oil to motor vehicles to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Doing so, it’s hoped, will reduce red tape at the border. There was no indication how transparent such efforts will be.

International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and her U.S. counterpart have been given 100 days to come up with a plan to head off a new softwood lumber dispute.

There was no mention of the Keystone XL pipeline debate, and only passing mention of the auto industry and NAFTA. Rather, the leaders’ statement spoke glowingly about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, even though Trudeau insists he won’t sign on until the government has consulted Canadians.

The World

Canada and the U.S. pledged to continue to work to cut off ISIL’s funding, curtail the flow of foreign terrorist fighters and counteract the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s propaganda. A White House statement welcomed Canada’s commitment last month to enhance “co-operation to address the military, humanitarian and development aspects of the conflict.”

The countries will also look at renewing an early warning radar system spanning the Arctic region to protect against air attacks. There was no mention of the F-35 stealth fighter, which the Liberals have promised not to buy.

The leaders agreed to beef up critical infrastructure security and information sharing on cyber-security with the private sector. They said they will work to get more regional partners involved in the G7 24/7 Network, which connects national police agencies to fight cyber crime.

The countries will work even closer on the world stage to advance a variety of objectives. The leaders promised to help Haiti and Ukraine stand on their own two feet, push for better access to electricity and education for girls in Africa, and work outside the UN to fight nuclear proliferation. They also both committed to doing more on UN peacekeeping and the refugee crisis.

Money was pledged to help dozens of countries prevent and respond to the threat of infectious disease.