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VANCOUVER - 12/08/03 - The so-called world's longest undefended border is getting increasingly prickly, according to a Fraser Institute report quoted by The Canadian Press wire service.
 
According to the report - The Unseen Wall - 96% of Canadian exporters believe Canada-U.S. relations have deteriorated in recent months, and two-thirds think this has hampered their ability to sell in America.
 
"As protectionist sentiment builds in the United States and even business-friendly media run anti-trade features, this survey shows how much bad relations have cost Canadians in prosperity and jobs," says Fred McMahon, director of the free-market-oriented Institute's Trade and Globalization Center.

The survey of 107 companies found 72% reported encountering non-tariff, non-quota trade barriers such as discriminatory use of regulations, border delays and buy-national policies.

This was up from 42% who cited such obstacles last year.

All of the military-oriented companies surveyed complained of US non-tariff obstacles; the fewest problems were in the highly integrated automotive sector.
 
"A third of everything produced in Canada is exported to the United States, with the trade surplus alone equal to nearly 10% of our economy," McMahon notes.
 
"That surplus puts the lie to the view the United States is a trade bully, but provides a rich target for US protectionists and nationalists."

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