A Unique and Vital Relationship

The links between our countries are deep, diverse and complex.

We share:

• A long tradition of cooperation in defending our continent and fighting for freedom.
• The world's largest trading relationship.
• A common border that stretches across 8,893 kilometers (5,526 miles) of land and three oceans.
• Stewardship of a rich and diverse environment, including 20 percent of the world's supply of fresh water in the Great Lakes.

Partners for Security

In the broadest political, economic and military sense, Canada's security is entwined with that of the United States. In response to the September 11 attacks, Canada joined forces with the U.S. in the struggle against terrorism.

Fighting terrorism is the top priority for Canada and the U.S. Currently, approximately 2,500 Canadian Forces personnel are deployed in Afghanistan as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

More than 7,000 Canadian Forces personnel have taken part in missions in Southwest Asia to fight Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters since the terrorist attacks of September 11.

This continues a long tradition of fighting together to defend common values and ideals. Canadians and Americans have fought side-by-side in two World Wars, in Korea, in the Persian Gulf and in Kosovo.

Canada and the United States are partners in defending North America through the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). Since the Second World War, we have shared our resources and expertise to create an integrated defence industrial base to sustain our armed forces.

Our two countries were founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (UN), and cooperate in other multilateral institutions such as the Organization of American States (OAS).

Partners in Economic Growth

Canada and the United States are each other's most important trading partners. Our growing economic inter-dependence benefits both countries in an era of global change.

In 2008, the annual two-way trade in goods and services between Canada and the U.S. was worth over C$742 billion. It is a vital component of our economic security.

Under NAFTA, Canada and the United States have increased their already substantial trade by an average annual growth rate of almost 6%. Canada remains the United States' largest trading partner, with approximately 20.1% of U.S. exports being sold to Canada..

Canada is the leading market for goods for 35 U.S. states and the second leading market for a further 10. The U.S. exports more goods and services to Canada than to any individual country – more than to Japan and Mexico combined.

The Canada-U.S. relationship also includes one of the world’s largest bilateral investment relationships. The United States is Canada's largest foreign investor and the most popular destination for Canadian investment.

Partners for Energy Security

Canada is the United States' largest supplier of crude oil and refined products, natural gas, electricity and uranium. More importantly, for the United States, a country that views energy security in terms of access to supplies, Canada remains a consistent and secure supplier.

In 2006, Canada's energy exports to the U.S. were valued at around $75 billion U.S.

Canada and the U.S. supply almost 100 percent of each other's electricity imports. Canada supplies 86 percent of U.S. natural gas imports and 17 percent of U.S. imports of crude and refined oil products - more than any foreign supplier at over 2.4 million barrels a day.

Canada and the United States have a strong and growing energy relationship and we will continue to work together toward our common objectives of energy security and economic prosperity.

Partners for a Smart Border

With about $1.7 billion in goods and services crossing the Canada-United States border each day, secure and efficient border crossings are the life line of our mutual economic growth and prosperity.

Canada's investments in secure and efficient border management in cooperation with the U.S. demonstrate our common values and interests.

More trade flows between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan than through any other border crossing in the world. Trucks carry approximately 80 percent of Canada's trade with the U.S. - one truck crosses the Canada-U.S. border almost every 2 seconds.

Canada and the United States are actively engaged in implementing the 32-point Smart Border Action Plan. Since the signing of the Smart Border Declaration and Action Plan in December 2001, significant progress has been made to enhance the security and efficiency of our shared border.

Several Smart Border initiatives are underway, including:

• the expansion of NEXUS (dedicated "fast lanes" for pre-approved and low-risk travelers) and FAST (expedited clearance processes for pre-authorized shipments) programs;
• the establishment of joint teams of customs officials in the ports of Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Seattle-Tacoma and Newark to target marine containers arriving from abroad that are destined for the other country; and
• the expansion of Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) from coast to coast along the Canada-U.S. border.

Most recently, the 2008 federal budget allocated $174 million over the next two years to ensure Canada has the best equipment, infrastructure, regulations, and cooperative frameworks in place to maximize the security and efficiency of the Canada-U.S. border.

To respond to future needs, Canada has created $600 million Border Infrastructure Fund to modernize and improve the infrastructure at the major border crossings.

Partners on Environmental Issues

The joint stewardship of the environment is a cornerstone of Canada-U.S. relations and will increase in importance as both countries take up the environmental challenges of the 21st century. Beginning with the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, which established the International Joint Commission, we have developed a network of cooperative arrangements, including:

• the Migratory Birds Convention (1916) to protect migratory waterfowl;
• the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1972) to protect the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes;
• the Agreement on Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd (1987) to jointly manage and protect the habitat of the trans-boundary herd;
• the Air Quality Agreement (1991) and Ozone Annex (2000) to improve air quality by reducing pollution from acid rain and ozone; and
• the Binational Toxics Strategy (1997) to eliminate the release of certain toxic substances into the Great Lakes
• the recent climate change plan, Turning the Corner, (March 2008) is a regulatory framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Building on this solid foundation, our two countries are well positioned to provide a safe, clean and healthy place to live for future generations of Americans and Canadians.

A Rules-Based Partnership

Approximately 300 treaties and agreements govern our relationship and provide a solid legal basis for our cooperation on a wide range of issues. We are continually engaged in strengthening and deepening the rules-based collaboration that brings both countries unequalled prosperity and security.