Manufacturers, and their integrated supply chains, face growing transactional compliance hurdles when shipping goods across our shared border. This threatens manufacturing competitiveness, dampens export growth, and stifles job creation in both countries. 

The announcement by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper on their shared objectives is an important step forward in addressing the needs of manufacturers in the integrated Canadian/U.S. economy. B3 applauds the two governments for their announcement today of a shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness.

B3 looks forward to working with our governments to strengthen and grow our highly integrated cross-border manufacturing industries through more efficient border operations and regulatory collaboration by building on existing government trusted trader programs such as Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST). This includes the reduction of red tape at the border and expanding trade infrastructure. 

B3 is bi-national coalition representing manufacturers with significant cross-border trade interests and that have been vetted and recognized by governments as being low-risk traders. B3 is steered by the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC), Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), Canadian Vehicle Manufactures’ Association (CVMA), and the U.S. National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). 

-AAPC-
The American Automotive Policy Council, Inc. (AAPC) is a Washington, DC- based non-profit trade association that represents the common public policy interests of its member companies: Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company.
Please visit www.aapc.us

-CME-
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is Canada's leading trade and industry association.CME represents businesses that employ over two million Canadians in all sectors of manufacturing as well as in Canada's resource, technology, and services exporting sectors. Our mission is to build a better business environment for Canadian manufacturers and exporters and help our members compete and grow in Canada and around the world.CME focuses on the issues that are critical for our members – manufacturing competitiveness and innovation, business opportunities in the United States and other international markets, people and skills, energy and the environment.
Please visit www.cme-mec.ca

-CVMA-
The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association is the industry association that has represented Canada's leading manufacturers of light and heavy duty motor vehicles for more than 80 years. Its membership includes Chrysler Canada Inc.; Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited; General Motors of Canada Limited; and Navistar Canada, Inc. Collectively its members directly employ roughly 35,000 Canadians, have over 50,000 retirees, operate 7 vehicle assembly plants, 5 major components plants, and have over 1,000 dealerships. 125,000 jobs are directly tied to vehicle assembly in Canada. 
Please visit www.cvma.ca. 

-NAM- 
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook.
Please visit www.nam.org