Thank you for your question. Allow me to be quite direct.
For me, the common economic space of North America requires an economic policy of further integration and thinning the border so the automobile sector or other manufacturing sectors are able to move freely across that border. We have to work with the Americans, and my preference is bilaterally.
I have argued elsewhere that we trilateralize too much of our relationship with the United States. That economic relationship doesn't have much to do with foreign policy; it has a lot to do with the sharing of economic space in North America. I believe we should be more ambitious for that economic space beyond the FTA, in terms of seeking ambitions that would have us deal with rules of origin and perimeter issues with respect to border and security requirements. We can talk about that.
But it is absolutely imperative for our foreign policy well-being and our relevance in Washington that we have a deep and contributing role in international affairs outside of the North American economic space. When things have gone well, the Americans have wanted to talk to Canadians, because we had ideas and presence globally that helped inform American decision-makers about issues they were dealing with.
George Shultz was referenced by Mr. Taylor. When George Shultz was Secretary of State he met with the Canadian foreign minister on a quarterly basis. He called that tending the garden. Sure, the bilateral issues were undoubtedly raised, but they also talked about the hot spots in the world, where Canadian perspectives were not always the American perspectives, but they were informed; they could engage.
The issues are different today, but we have to bring to bear our capacity to engage, inform, and participate in the debate globally to have influence in Washington. My concern is that we not simply think of the U.S. relationship as an economic bilateral relationship, or we won't have mind-share or time-share in the administration. It will be detailed work for officials who are managing a commercial enterprise. We need to have the ideas, the articulated global perspectives, and the assets that make those judgments valuable to the Americans.