Description
Book SynopsisHeightened awareness of North America's vulnerability to terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11 has precipitated a crisis for transport suppliers and cargo owners, one that jeopardizes economic prosperity. Mary Brooks examines one industry sector of the North American economic relationship - transportation services - from the perspectives of transport supplier, cargo owner and policymaker.
Ensuring security in international transportation without compromising operational effectiveness is a delicate balancing act. There is concern that economic benefits from NAFTA and the Canada-US Trade Agreement may have been diminished by the current security focus of American officials. The author addresses these concerns, beginning with a history of NAFTA and subsequent continental economic integration. Succeeding chapters provide an economic and regulatory assessment of the North American transport network, and examine key issues for both cargo interests and surface transport suppliers. The issues of perimeter security and growing regionalization are also explored. The author closes with a discussion of North America's transportation future under the Security and Prosperity Partnership.
The unique insights of North American Freight Transportation will be of interest to policymakers, those in the transport sector, as well as researchers and practitioners in political science and trade economics.
Trade Review'The book is certainly a long awaited coverage of a topic which is becoming increasingly important from an economic and strategic perspective. . . a must for those dealing with freight issues on the continent, notably transborder dimensions. It goes a long way at linking trans-nationalism and freight distribution.' -- Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Journal of Transport Geography
Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. NAFTA: A History and Post-9/11 Assessment 2. The North American Transport Network: An Economic and Regulatory Assessment 3. Key Issues for Cargo Interests 4. Key Issues for Surface Transport Suppliers 5. Forgotten Modes 6. The ‘Undefended’ Northern Border and Perimeter Security 7. A Secure North American Transportation Network for the 21st Century? References Index
