Skip to main content

The three largest countries and economics of North America have been working for over thirty years to enhance mutual prosperity, security and well-being across the many issues that connect these three neighbors.

Canada, Mexico, and the United States have created, redesigned, and reinvented a series of bilateral and trilateral mechanisms and processes to help manage their relationships and the important matters and challenges on their shared agendas as sovereign independent nations.

It is fair to say that “North America,” however, is not a term or concept that has caught fire in any of the three countries. The significant value added of getting continental collaboration right on key issues is often overlooked.

This essay is part of the series, "Strengthening North American Ties - A Must For Competitiveness," by the Wilson Center's Mexico and Canada Institutes. 

About the Author

Earl Anthony Wayne

Earl Anthony Wayne

Public Policy Fellow;
Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University
Read More

Mexico Institute

The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute.   Read more

Canada Institute

The mission of the Wilson Center's Canada Institute is to raise the level of knowledge of Canada in the United States, particularly within the Washington, DC policy community.  Research projects, initiatives, podcasts, and publications cover contemporary Canada, US-Canadian relations, North American political economy, and Canada's global role as it intersects with US national interests.  Read more