U.S. and Canada Launch “Joint Forward Plan” to Cut Red Tape

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Office of the Prime Minister Sep 09, 2014

Today, the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) Joint Forward Plan was released. The plan sets the stage for fundamental changes in the way regulatory departments and agencies in both countries work together, making it easier for businesses to operate in both countries.

The Joint Forward Plan, which builds on the RCC Joint Action Plan launched in December 2011 by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama, will deepen Canada-U.S. regulatory cooperation through new bi-national processes and partnerships. This approach will institutionalize joint planning and collaboration between Canadian and U.S. regulatory agencies.

The Joint Forward Plan also includes specific commitments to align 24 areas of regulatory business.  Work will continue in areas such as marine safety and security, pharmaceuticals, food safety, plant and animal health, and crop protection products. The RCC Forward Plan also expands work into new areas such as energy efficiency, toy safety, medical devices, chemicals management, and the use of natural gas in transportation. 

The Joint Forward Plan will help regulators address a greater number of specific issues and make the broad changes necessary to prevent misalignments from happening in the future.

Following the launch of the Plan, Canadian and U.S. regulatory departments will establish formal partnerships as well as annual work plans and joint planning processes for each of the initial 24 areas of business. Going forward, the planning process will also open the door for discussion on other areas of regulatory cooperation that could be initiated.  

Quick Facts

• The new RCC Joint Forward Plan enhances the work initiated in the 2011 RCC Joint Action Plan by moving from a focus on individual initiatives toward the development of more ambitious regulatory partnerships. The goal of these new partnerships is to have bilateral regulatory cooperation across a broad range of issues, entrenched within the regular planning and operational activities of regulatory agencies in both countries.
• From August 31 to November 8, 2013, the RCC invited public input on the next phase of Canada-U.S. regulatory cooperation. Submissions were received from 160 stakeholders from a wide range of sectors and regions in Canada and the United States. These informed the three key components of the Joint Forward Plan’s future work: departmental-level bi-national processes to strengthen regulatory partnership; department-to-department commitments and work plans; and work on cross-cutting issues.
• Canada and the United States enjoy one of the closest and largest trading relationships in the world. Bilateral trade in goods and services surpassed $781 billion in 2013, with more than $2.1 billion worth of goods and services crossing the border daily – or almost $1.5 million traded every minute.

Quotes

“The prosperity and competitiveness of Canada and the United States depends on the efficient flow of legitimate commerce across our borders. The new Joint Forward Plan will help reduce the regulatory burden that our companies currently endure, freeing them up to do what they do best: create jobs and economic growth.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

“Input from industry will continue to play a critical role as regulators on both sides of the border set priorities and focus work in areas that will generate the greatest benefit for business and consumers.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper 

Related Products

• Forward Plan
• Summary of Input

Associated Links

• www.actionplan.gc.ca/rcc
• www.trade.gov/rcc