    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [March 23, 2005]
    [Pages 520-521]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by President Bush, President Fox, and Prime Minister Martin:
    Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
    March 23, 2005

        We, the elected leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the United States,
    gather in Texas to announce the establishment of the Security and
    Prosperity Partnership of North America.
        Over the past decade, our three nations have taken important steps
    to expand economic opportunity for our people and to create the most
    vibrant and dynamic trade relationship in the world. Since September 11,
    2001, we have also taken significant new steps to address the threat of
    terrorism and to enhance the security of our people.
        But more needs to be done. In a rapidly changing world, we must
    develop new avenues of cooperation that will make our open societies
    safer and more secure, our businesses more competitive, and our
    economies more resilient.
        Our Partnership will accomplish these objectives through a
    trilateral effort to increase the security, prosperity, and quality of
    life of our citizens. This work will be based on the principle that our
    security and prosperity are mutually dependent and complementary, and
    will reflect our shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and
    strong democratic values and institutions. Also, it will help
    consolidate our action into a North American framework to confront
    security and economic challenges, and promote the full potential of our
    people, addressing disparities and increasing opportunities for all.
        Our Partnership is committed to reach the highest results to advance
    the security and well-being of our people. The Partnership is trilateral
    in concept; while allowing any two countries to move forward on an
    issue, it will create a path for the third to join later.

    Advancing our Common Security

        We will establish a common approach to security to protect North
    America from external threats, prevent and respond to threats within
    North America, and further streamline the secure and efficient movement
    of legitimate, low-risk traffic across our shared borders. As part of
    our efforts, we will:
         Implement common border security and bioprotection
                strategies;
         Enhance critical infrastructure protection, and implement a
                common approach to emergency response;
         Implement improvements in aviation and maritime security,
                combat transnational threats, and enhance intelligence
                partnerships; and
         Implement a border facilitation strategy to build capacity
                and improve the legitimate flow of people and cargo at our
                shared borders.

    Advancing our Common Prosperity

        We will work to enhance North American competitiveness and improve
    the quality of life of our people. Among other things, we will:
         Improve productivity through regulatory cooperation to
                generate growth, while maintaining high standards for health
                and safety;
         Promote sectoral collaboration in energy, transportation,
                financial services, technology, and other areas to
                facilitate business; and invest in our people;
         Reduce the costs of trade through the efficient movement of
                goods and people; and
         Enhance the stewardship of our environment, create a safer
                and more reliable food supply while facilitating
                agricultural trade, and protect our people from disease.

    [[Page 521]]

    Next Steps

        We will establish Ministerial-led working groups that will consult
    with stakeholders in our respective countries. These working groups will
    respond to the priorities of our people and our businesses, and will set
    specific, measurable, and achievable goals. They will identify concrete
    steps that our governments can take to meet these goals, and set
    implementation dates that will permit a rolling harvest of
    accomplishments.
        Within 90 days, Ministers will report back to us with their initial
    report. Following this, the groups will report on a semi-annual basis.
    Because the Partnership will be an ongoing process of cooperation, new
    items will be added to the work agenda by mutual agreement as
    circumstances warrant.
        Through this Partnership, we will ensure that North America remains
    the most economically dynamic region of the world and a secure home for
    our people in this and future generations.

     Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.