Prepared by: Dawson Strategic
February 4, 2015
ABSTRACT:
This research paper examines the cross-border dimensions of transportation policy, particularly the United States (US) barriers to Canadian transportation services and infrastructure. The report’s opening premise is that policy frameworks for Canada and the US for different modes of transportation often evolved on separate trajectories, which has created variable levels of cross-border integration of services and priorities. Uneven coordination among regulators has reinforced the variations, gaps and overlaps. The study examines the evolution of the Canada-U.S. transportation regime, and provides an in-depth assessment for each key transportation mode: air, marine, rail, and surface, as well as issues specific to the Arctic region. The report concludes that Canada’s place in the North American transportation system looks reasonably good, and that transportation infrastructure is also significantly interconnected. Considerations for the future include addressing the remaining barriers to market access, governance of key transportation sectors, and enhancing key North American trade corridors.
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