Canada - Political EnvironmentCanada - Political Environment
U.S.-Canada Relations
The United States and Canada are the closest of allies, share the longest international border in the world, and our citizens have long treated each other like friends and neighbors; many share family ties across the world’s longest undefended border. In fields ranging from security and law enforcement to trade, federal and local authorities in both countries work closely on multiple levels.
U.S. defense arrangements with Canada are more extensive than with any other country. The Permanent Joint Board on Defense provides policy-level consultation on bilateral defense matters. The United States and Canada share North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mutual security commitments, and the United States and Canadian military forces cooperate on continental defense within the framework of the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
The constant and vast two-way flow of goods, services, people, and ideas that enriches both of our countries requires close cooperation. The United States and Canada work in partnerships within, at, and away from our borders to enhance security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods, and services between our two countries. These efforts are calibrated to address threats early; facilitate lawful trade and travel; help law enforcement collaborate; and ensure resilience and cybersecurity. Our extensive law enforcement ties include collaboration in risk assessment/analysis, incident management, and coordinated messaging. Successful joint law enforcement programs with Canada include the Border Enforcement Security Taskforces (BEST) and the Shiprider Integrated Cross Border Maritime Law Enforcement program. In addition, the Cross-Border Crime Forum (CBCF), co-chaired by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and their Canadian counterparts, meets to address issues pertaining to the intersection of cross-border law enforcement and prosecution.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducts preclearance operations at eight Canadian airports, allowing air travelers to complete customs and immigration procedures before boarding flights to the United States.
The United States and Canada cooperate closely to resolve and manage transboundary environmental and water issues. A principal instrument of this cooperation is the International Joint Commission, established under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty. The United States and Canada have hundreds of environmental partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels. These partnerships include the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to protect water quality and ecosystem health, and the Columbia River Treaty to regulate and manage the Columbia River as it flows from British Columbia into the United States. The two countries cooperate on a range of bilateral fisheries issues and international high seas governance initiatives and are both founding members of the Arctic Council.
The bilateral energy relationship is governed by market principles, but federal government-to-government policy coordination, regulatory alignment and R&D cooperation is facilitated though shared bilateral and multilateral work plans, cooperative R&D agreements and the Regulatory Cooperation Council.
U.S. Assistance to Canada
The United States provides no foreign assistance to Canada.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The high volume of bilateral trade between our two nations reflects the comprehensive nature of the trade and investment relationship that supports our mutual prosperity and millions of jobs on both sides of the border. Canada is the single largest foreign supplier of energy to the United States. Canada is the third largest holder of oil reserves, after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela; and is the only non-OPEC member in the top five. Canada and the United States operate an integrated electricity grid under jointly developed reliability standards. Uranium mined in Canada helps to fuel U.S. nuclear power plants.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among the United States, Canada, and Mexico reduced trade barriers and established agreed upon trade rules. It liberalized rules in several areas including agriculture, services, energy, financial services, investment, and government procurement. On May 18, 2017 the U.S. Administration formally notified Congress of its intent to renegotiate the NAFTA. On November 30, 2018, the United States, Mexico, and Canada signed a modernized and rebalanced trade agreement called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The new USMCA will support mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America. For more information on USMCA, please see USTR’s announcements. USMCA will enter force following legislative ratification by all three governments.
Canada and the United States have one of the world's largest investment relationships. The United States is Canada's largest foreign investor, and Canada is the third-largest foreign investor in the United States. U.S. investment is primarily in Canada's mining and smelting industries, petroleum, chemicals, the manufacture of machinery and transportation equipment, and finance. Canadian investment in the United States is concentrated in finance and insurance, manufacturing, banking, information and retail trade, and other services.
Bilateral trade disputes are managed through bilateral consultative fora or referral to NAFTA or World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute resolution procedures. The United States has encouraged Canada to strengthen its intellectual property laws and enforcement.
Canada's Membership in International Organizations
In addition to their close bilateral ties, Canada and the United States cooperate in multilateral fora, including international efforts to combat terrorist financing and money laundering. The two countries belong to many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, WTO, G7, G20, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Organization of American States, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Bilateral Representation
The United States maintains an Embassy in Canada
Richard Mills is the Charge d'Affaires in Canada.
Visit U.S. Embassy in Canada
Canada maintains an Embassy in the United States
Kirsten Hillman is the Acting Ambassador of Canada to the United States
Visit Embassy of Canada
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
The United States and Canada are the closest of allies, share the longest international border in the world, and our citizens have long treated each other like friends and neighbors; many share family ties across the world’s longest undefended border. In fields ranging from security and law enforcement to trade, federal and local authorities in both countries work closely on multiple levels.
U.S. defense arrangements with Canada are more extensive than with any other country. The Permanent Joint Board on Defense provides policy-level consultation on bilateral defense matters. The United States and Canada share North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mutual security commitments, and the United States and Canadian military forces cooperate on continental defense within the framework of the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
The constant and vast two-way flow of goods, services, people, and ideas that enriches both of our countries requires close cooperation. The United States and Canada work in partnerships within, at, and away from our borders to enhance security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods, and services between our two countries. These efforts are calibrated to address threats early; facilitate lawful trade and travel; help law enforcement collaborate; and ensure resilience and cybersecurity. Our extensive law enforcement ties include collaboration in risk assessment/analysis, incident management, and coordinated messaging. Successful joint law enforcement programs with Canada include the Border Enforcement Security Taskforces (BEST) and the Shiprider Integrated Cross Border Maritime Law Enforcement program. In addition, the Cross-Border Crime Forum (CBCF), co-chaired by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and their Canadian counterparts, meets to address issues pertaining to the intersection of cross-border law enforcement and prosecution.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducts preclearance operations at eight Canadian airports, allowing air travelers to complete customs and immigration procedures before boarding flights to the United States.
The United States and Canada cooperate closely to resolve and manage transboundary environmental and water issues. A principal instrument of this cooperation is the International Joint Commission, established under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty. The United States and Canada have hundreds of environmental partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels. These partnerships include the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to protect water quality and ecosystem health, and the Columbia River Treaty to regulate and manage the Columbia River as it flows from British Columbia into the United States. The two countries cooperate on a range of bilateral fisheries issues and international high seas governance initiatives and are both founding members of the Arctic Council.
The bilateral energy relationship is governed by market principles, but federal government-to-government policy coordination, regulatory alignment and R&D cooperation is facilitated though shared bilateral and multilateral work plans, cooperative R&D agreements and the Regulatory Cooperation Council.
U.S. Assistance to Canada
The United States provides no foreign assistance to Canada.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The high volume of bilateral trade between our two nations reflects the comprehensive nature of the trade and investment relationship that supports our mutual prosperity and millions of jobs on both sides of the border. Canada is the single largest foreign supplier of energy to the United States. Canada is the third largest holder of oil reserves, after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela; and is the only non-OPEC member in the top five. Canada and the United States operate an integrated electricity grid under jointly developed reliability standards. Uranium mined in Canada helps to fuel U.S. nuclear power plants.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among the United States, Canada, and Mexico reduced trade barriers and established agreed upon trade rules. It liberalized rules in several areas including agriculture, services, energy, financial services, investment, and government procurement. On May 18, 2017 the U.S. Administration formally notified Congress of its intent to renegotiate the NAFTA. On November 30, 2018, the United States, Mexico, and Canada signed a modernized and rebalanced trade agreement called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The new USMCA will support mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America. For more information on USMCA, please see USTR’s announcements. USMCA will enter force following legislative ratification by all three governments.
Canada and the United States have one of the world's largest investment relationships. The United States is Canada's largest foreign investor, and Canada is the third-largest foreign investor in the United States. U.S. investment is primarily in Canada's mining and smelting industries, petroleum, chemicals, the manufacture of machinery and transportation equipment, and finance. Canadian investment in the United States is concentrated in finance and insurance, manufacturing, banking, information and retail trade, and other services.
Bilateral trade disputes are managed through bilateral consultative fora or referral to NAFTA or World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute resolution procedures. The United States has encouraged Canada to strengthen its intellectual property laws and enforcement.
Canada's Membership in International Organizations
In addition to their close bilateral ties, Canada and the United States cooperate in multilateral fora, including international efforts to combat terrorist financing and money laundering. The two countries belong to many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, WTO, G7, G20, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Organization of American States, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Bilateral Representation
The United States maintains an Embassy in Canada
Richard Mills is the Charge d'Affaires in Canada.
Visit U.S. Embassy in Canada
Canada maintains an Embassy in the United States
Kirsten Hillman is the Acting Ambassador of Canada to the United States
Visit Embassy of Canada
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.