Research institute finds need for more cross-border collaboration

By Oliver Lazenby

Though there’s national tension over trade between the U.S. and Canada, cross-border partnerships are strong, especially in Washington state and British Columbia, according to a recent report from Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute (BPRI).

The institute held a forum on October 24 that brought together experts from three different sectors – transportation, business and environment – to discuss cross-border partnership.

The BPRI report notes that cross-border work ranges from “formal policy agreements” to business initiatives and environmental collaboration.

“Regional efforts, while strong at times, remain largely informal and ad hoc,” the report states. For BPRI, the latest report illustrated a “need for stronger and more structured mechanisms to support cross-border collaboration.”

One recent example of a more structured partnership is Washington governor Jay Inslee and B.C. premier John Horgan signing a memo of understanding in October titled “Advancing the innovation economy, environmental protection and transportation connectivity,” that vows cooperation between the two governments in those three areas.

To learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of cross-border work in Washington state and B.C., read the full report here: cedar.wwu.edu/bpri_publications/113/.