PNWER would like to invite you to submit your comments and recommendations on opportunities for regulatory reforms that you feel would improve the trading climate, and competitiveness for your business, or sector between the U.S. and Canada. These comments will be aggregated into a prioritized list that PNWER has been asked to submit to the US Department of Commerce (DOC) in advance of the formation of the bi-national 'Regulatory Cooperation Council' agreed to by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper on Feb. 4. Please submit any comments before March 25, 2011 for us to meet the 30 day deadline requested by US DOC.

Questions to be addressed include, but are not limited to:

1.      What regulations are causing significant delays and/or additional costs in your exports to U.S./Canada?

2.      What regulatory barriers are impeding your ability to export products/services to the U.S./Canadian market?

3.      What recommendations do you have that would improve U.S. and Canadian competitiveness in global markets?

4.      Is there a pilot project that you recommend that would enhance cross-border trade?

5.     Do you have any suggestions for metrics for evaluating impediments to cross border trade?  

Please see instructions on how to submit comments at the end of this email.

On February 4 Prime Minister Harper met with President Obama and signed a declaration entitled, "Beyond the Border:  A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Cooperation."  They also announced the formation of a "Regulatory Cooperation Council" composed of senior regulatory, trade, and foreign affairs officials from both governments.  "In recognition of our $1 trillion annual trade and investment relationship, the RCC has a two-year mandate to work together to promote economic growth, job creation, and benefits to our consumers and businesses through increased regulatory transparency and coordination"(according to the press release from the Government of Canada).

The President and Prime Minister further  "directed that the first meeting of the RCC be convened within 90 days by the relevant agencies in Canada and the United States." To plan for that first meeting, the U.S. Department of Commerce is soliciting public comments concerning regulatory cooperation activities that would help eliminate or reduce unnecessary regulatory divergences in North America that disrupt U.S. exports. In a meeting in Washington, D.C. last Thursday (March 3) PNWER Officers met with U.S. Department of Commerce Officials who asked PNWER to work with our bi-national, regional stakeholders to solicit input into this process.  On the same day, the Department issued a Federal Register request with a 30 day window for public comments on regulations that could be amended to improve the competitiveness of our two nations.  Also, please note, the U.S. Department of Commerce solicitation focuses on economic cooperation and is separate from perimeter security which is led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) and will be forth coming.

 There are two ways to share your comments:

 1.The preferred method is by going to pnwer.ideascale.com.  You will first need to make an account, done very simply by clicking "register" in the upper right hand corner of the screen.  Once you have registered, and then logged in, you will be able to add your comments, and vote on those already submitted and take part in an online dialogue.  The system is easy to use once you have made an account. If you have questions, do not hesitate to call Megan at the PNWER office: 206-443-7723

2.If you would prefer to submit comments through email instead, please send them to brandon@pnwer.org, focusing on the questions listed above.  We will then share these ideas with the broader group for comment/discussion via the online system described above.

For Information contact:

Matt Morrison

Office: 206-443-7723 

Cell: 206-399-4026

PNWER Executive Director

 www.pnwer.org