Group work 6. What influence do trade bloc have in helping North America become energy secure?

6. What influence do trade blocs have in helping North America become energy secure? USA doesn’t produce as much as it uses in terms of oil and gas. This means it has to rely on imported fossil fuel sources. Canada and Mexico both produce more oil and gas than they consume, allowing some to be exported to the USA. USA needs more oil than the whole of the North American production, meaning that to provide for America alone they need to import, before Canada and Mexico have any oil themselves. This means that they will have to rely on potentially unstable oil sources such as OPEC.

6. What influence do trade blocs have in helping North America become energy secure? North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allows trade between the countries in North America without taxes and limitations. This provides a more reliable and stable oil source rather than relying solely on the middle east and other oil producing areas By being able to have more trusted trade sources, they can rely on imports during times of unease with other countries.

Synoptic links…. Energy Security in North America can be linked to many other topics. -Alternative fuels can be water intensive, such as HEP or Bio-fuel. -Technology like CCS to make coal cleaner. -Mining difficult oil (e.g. tar sands, deep water) can destroy habitats and impact on bio-diversity -Trade blocs like NAFTA restrict developing countries access to the North American market increasing the Development Gap. -NAFTA increases opportunities for TNC’s to trade within North America and also externally, linking to Globalisation.