WASHINGTON — The Canadian Trucking Alliance went to Washington this week to begin discussions on the recent border agreement announced in December between President Obama and Prime Minister Harper.

While the CTA noted that the discussions were short on specifics, they are positive that the meetings scheduled for this winter in New York and Washington will begin to put "more meat on the policy bones."

The bones are the in-transit movements, mutual recognition of trusted trader programs, FAST cards, pre-inspection, pre-clearance, border inspection fees, RFID, and wood packaging material policy – all to be dealt with in more detail in the coming weeks, the CTA said.

Still, though, the next few months will be critical in how governments and industry on both sides of the border come together on implementing the objectives in the border agreement, said CTA’s VP of Customs, Jennifer Fox.

Fox said that while it is clear that stakeholders on both sides of the border are working together, “it also appears that industry will be under pressure to react to proposals in a swift manner.

"Participation and input by industry over the next six months regarding these matters will be critical to their success."