ottawa<u+2014>canadian officials have produced <u+201c>limited results<u+201d> in bolstering border security and accelerating cross-border trade in the five years since a landmark agreement between ottawa and washington, a canadian government watchdog says. the findings from canada<u+2019>s auditor general , released tuesday, come after u.s. president-elect donald trump promised in his election campaign to focus on border security and better trade terms from canada and mexico, who are signatories to the north american free-trade agreement. the report from auditor general michael ferguson, whose role is roughly equivalent to that of the u.s. government accountability office, evaluated the results of the canadian government<u+2019>s beyond the border initiative. former prime minister stephen harper and president barack obama endorsed the broad plan in 2011 to integrate north american security efforts and accelerate the flow of trade across the border. implementing the promises carried a price tag for canada of 1.1 billion canadian dollars ($819.7 million). the border plan included, for instance, a beefed-up entry-exit verification system and an integrated cargo-security program, in which goods would be inspected at the first point of arrival in north america and be given pre-clearance for travel across the border. canada<u+2019>s efforts to date have produced <u+201c>limited results<u+201d> and faced significant delays, mr. ferguson said in his report. government departments and agencies involved <u+201c>cannot show canadians how these measures have significantly enhanced border security or accelerated travel and trade,<u+201d> he said. canadian officials said they agreed with the report<u+2019>s findings and recommendations. <u+201c>we are taking action to address them,<u+201d> said ralph goodale, canada<u+2019>s minister of public safety. uncertainty among canadian firms is at elevated levels, partly because people are waiting to see what policy measures mr. trump might want to enact to fulfill his promises. this has increased expectations among canadian market watchers about another rate cut from the bank of canada. the auditor issued eight recommendations on improving efforts to bolster trade and security. a representative from the u.s. embassy in ottawa did not immediately respond for a request for comment. at the time that beyond the border plan was rolled out, canadian firms applauded the agreement. exporters believed it could help ease bottlenecks and compliance burdens that delayed and thwarted the shipment of goods across the border following the sept. 11 attacks in 2001. write to paul vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com
canada falls short of pledge on border security and trade, watchdog says  - wsj
paul vieira