Toward a North American Security Perimeter? Assessing the Trade and FDI Impacts of Liberalizing 9/11 Security Measures

This paper examines, for the first time, the trade and FDI impacts of a North American Security Perimeter that would liberalize the post 9/11 security measures at the Canada-US border. First, the study estimates econometrically the impact of post 9/11 security measures on bilateral (US-Canada) trade flows using a gravity model. Second, using these econometric estimates together with a three-region ninesector general equilibrium model, we compute sectoral tariff rates “equivalent” to the 9/11 security measures. Finally, we assess the (general equilibrium) impacts on trade and FDI of a change of security paradigm toward a North American Security Perimeter. The paper shows that the economic opportunity gains occurring to Canada and the US from the liberalization of the 9/11 security measures amount to US$20 billion annually. This figure, once added to the direct administrative costs of the post 9/11 security measures, warrants serious consideration in policy discussions of a North American Security Perimeter.