Challenge & response: after 9/11, the Detroit Regional Chamber leads the charge for a safe and efficient border between two great trading partners--the United States and Canada.

The Crisis ...

Sept. 11, 2001, is a date that almost certainly will be remembered for generations to come. Here in the Detroit Region, trade between the United States and Canada ground to a virtual halt as horrific images of the terrorist attacks on America stunned the world.

Increased inspections and security at the Northern Border resulted in 12-mile-long backups into the United States at the Ambassador and Blue Water bridges and five-hour delays at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel--the region's busiest crossing points--threatening the economic security of the United States and its No. 1 trading partner, Canada.

In financial terms, the stakes were enormous: $1.4 billion in trade crosses the U.S.-Canada border each day--40 percent of it at the five land-border crossings in the Detroit Region. $300 million of that daily trade is automotive related.

In human terms, the stakes are incalculable: Access to jobs, health care, educational opportunities, recreation and tourism in Regional Detroit--all depend on the free flow of people and commerce at our Northern Border. Prior to September 11, our Northern Border with Canada was not functioning efficiently or effectively. With the events of 9-11, however, these problems were only further exacerbated. The result is that overall traffic volumes at all land border crossings are down 20 percent on average. And inspection booths for both U.S. Immigration and Customs are still not staffed at full capacity.

Historically, there has been a lack of awareness and understanding by the federal government of the economic importance of the U.S./Canada border and the level of staffing and other resources needed to support that daily volume of people and trade. The passage of NAFTA and other trade agreements has also resulted in increased commerce and trade across our border while staffing levels have essentially remained the same since the '80s. Despite this fact, the major share of border resources today continue to flow to the southern border to fight the war on drugs and illegal immigration.

The Response ...

Recognizing the importance for our region of addressing both national and economic security, the Detroit Regional Chamber within days of the attacks formed the Northern Border for Economic Security and Trade (NBEST), a bi-national coalition of private and public firms with the mission of making our border more efficient and secure. NBEST was charged to address the economic crisis that was clearly beginning to negatively impact business, tourism and quality of life in the region. Through NBEST, the Chamber established an effective network of key task forces to mobilize the region's principal stakeholders, improve communication and coordination of information, and develop recommendations for action.

NBEST's Vision: A safe and secure border that provides a seamless and efficient flow of people and goods between two great trading partners.

NBEST's Goal: A strong, unified voice advocating for the following improvements at the Michigan/Ontario border:

* Increase the level of INS and Customs staffing assigned to Regional Detroit.

* Accelerate and expand the use of technology to help expedite the flow of low-risk commercial freight that crosses our Michigan/Ontario border.

* Accelerate the implementation of the NEXUS Border Pass Program to help expedite the flow of frequent low-risk passenger traffic cross-border.

* Identify and implement infrastructure improvements needed to support the existing and future demand for passenger, rail and truck traffic that travels through our region's border crossings.

* Streamline and coordinate border management practices among the various federal agencies, as well as between the U.S. and Canada.

* Provide information to those who use the border, to ensure an efficient crossing.

Who makes up NBEST?

Established by the Detroit Regional Chamber, NBEST is made up of key business and trade organizations and interests from across Michigan and Ontario with knowledge and experience on border issues. The stakeholders include the Ambassador and Blue Water bridges, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, U.S. Customs and U.S Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Canadian Consulate General, Canada Customs & Revenue, state and local law enforcement, the auto industry, the Office of the Mayor for both Detroit and Windsor, the Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce and members and staff of the Michigan congressional delegation.

The Results ...

NBEST's initiatives have been crucial in accomplishing a number of key objectives this past year including:

* Secured 45 of the 105 additional INS inspectors needed at the Michigan-Ontario border.

* Secured 100 of the 146 additional Customs inspectors needed at the Michigan-Ontario border by the end of 2002.

* Secured the assistance of the Michigan National Guard and local law enforcement to assist federal agents at the border.

* Support for the implementation of NEXUS, a program for low-risk, pre-cleared passenger traffic, which is scheduled for implementation at all Michigan/Ontario land-border crossings this fall.

* Support for the immediate implementation of FAST and CTPAT to help expedite the flow of low-risk commercial traffic cross-border.

For complete details on NEXUS, visit the NEXUS Website at: www.ccraadrc.gc.ca/customs/individuals/nexus/menu_e.html or call toll free (866) NEXUS 26 (639-8726).

The Reality: Much Work Remains to be Done

While additional staff has been assigned to U.S. Customs and INS in Regional Detroit, overall staffing levels to date have increased only marginally due to attrition, early retirement and staff retention problems at those federal agencies. Meanwhile, overall traffic volume continues to increase despite predictions earlier this year that traffic volumes would remain at post-September 11 levels. The good news is that both INS and Customs have been successful in conducting the largest recruiting effort in the history of their organizations, resulting in new hires at both organizations.

The technology for pre-clearance of freight and passenger vehicles has been tested and proven successful in a number of pilot programs conducted nationally and in Detroit. However, full implementation of these programs continues to be delayed due to the lack of awareness by the federal government of the need and priority for funding these programs.

Given the numerous agencies on both sides of the border with responsibility for border management, there continues to be a need to streamline and better coordinate border management practices to ultimately achieve a seamless border with Canada. While the dialogue has begun to identify opportunities for improved coordination, much work remains to translate ideas into actions that result in improvements at the border.

Finally, we need to accelerate studies currently under way on both sides of the border to identify and implement infrastructure improvements needed to support the existing and future traffic demand cross-border.

For information regarding employment opportunities at the border, contact:

U.S. Customs at www. customs.gov/career/career.htm

U.S. INS at www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/workfor/careers/index.htm.

A Double Challenge: Report from the Front Lines

As manager of logistics strategy for DaimlerChrysler Corp. in Auburn Hills, and a resident of Windsor, Ontario, the border crisis was both a professional and personal challenge for Nels Bjorkman. Here's his first-person report:

The delays and traffic backups the first few weeks were unbelievable. One day it took me 3 1/2 hours to get across the Ambassador Bridge. That was the worst day, but the delays were generally in the two- to three-hour range. Fortunately, I had the benefit of setting up a satellite office in Windsor. That was OK for a couple of days a week, but not five days a week. I had to get to work in the U.S.

Before Sept. 11, Customs knew most of the people coming through in the morning were daily commuters, and we weren't given a great deal of scrutiny. All of that went out the window after 9-11. All of sudden, everybody got intense scrutiny. Instead of a brief question or two, we were questioned and our cars were searched. Once, I was asked to get out of my vehicle and put my hands on the hood while I was questioned!

Being in logistics at DaimlerChrysler, our primary job is to get parts and materials from the supply base to our plants and to move finished vehicles from plants to dealerships. With the border as constricted as it was, it threatened our just-in-time inventory production schedules. We had to scramble to set up alternative arrangements to ship our freight cross-border, including using rail to help transport some of our freight normally carried by trucks.

Bjorkman is now manager, production programs and launch at DaimlerChrysler.

Canada's John Tennant: A Tireless Border Advocate

The Detroit Region bid farewell to a good friend and community leader in September when John Tennant retired from government service after serving the past four years as the Consul General of Canada, based in Detroit.

Tennant was a tireless advocate for improvements at the U.S./Canada border long before the events of Sept. 11, 2001. From the start of his tour of duty in Detroit in 1998, Tennant worked tenaciously to assemble key stakeholders on both sides of the border to raise awareness of the issues, and develop strategies for action.

Among his contributions:

* Partnered with the Detroit Regional Chamber to conduct issue briefings between the business community and key Canadian stakeholders, including Transport Canada, the Canadian Counterpart to the U.S. DOT, George Haynal with Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and several key Canadian federal ministers including the Solicitor-General, the Minister of National Revenue and the Deputy Prime Minister.

* Coordinated a visit by Canadian Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Kergin, to Detroit and Lansing to address the Economic Club of Detroit, the state Senate and meet with Chamber members in May 2001.

* Actively participated in bi-national transportation planning meetings hosted by SEMCOG, the Canada-US Business Association (CUSBA), and the national annual Trade Corridors Conference.

Tennant is now with Canada's Technology Triangle, a non-governmental organization located in Toronto.

Call to Action:

How can you get involved? Call your representative in Congress to urge support for the following:

S. 2740--Senate Treasury Postal Appropriations Bill, which will provide U.S. Customs with $435 million for ACE, including FAST, and additional money to hire new Customs inspectors at the Northern Border.

HR 5120--House Treasury Postal Appropriations Bill, which will provide U.S. Customs with $21.6 million for staffing along the U.S.-Canadian Border, additional funding for enhanced infrastructure on the Northern Border, and money for pre-clearance programs such as NEXUS and FAST.

S. 2778--The Commerce, State and Justice Appropriations Bill, which will provide U.S. INS with funding to hire 570 additional border patrol agents for the Northern Border, 460 additional border inspectors, and money to improve and expand the use of technology to help pre-clear low-risk traffic at the border.

For contact information, talking points or sample letters to Congress, please visit the Chamber's Website at www.detroitchamber.com.

Let's work together to make our border safer, more efficient and effective.