The United States and Canada are likely the most tightly-knit of all neighbours.

But while they trade some $534-billion worth of goods a year, security concerns mean it might not always stay that way.

There are other challenges: a steadily rising Canadian dollar is putting a dent in Canadian exports, 80 per cent of which currently find their way to the United States; and soon-to-be-onstream security requirements, while postponed recently by the U.S. government, will one day require passports for all air, ground and water travellers.

Before that takes effect, 20 American MBA students from across the U.S. paid Canada a visit last month, visiting political and business leaders in Montreal and Ottawa, and taking part in discussions on North American integration.

Organized by the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, "remember Canada" seemed to be the common theme the participants were asked to take back, at least one student said.

Two of them spoke with the OBJ and reflected on what they learned, suggested how trade barriers like stricter border regimes can be improved upon, and gave ideas on how to improve trade in the days of a 93-cent loonie.

At 34, Lexie Bennett was one of the oldest MBAs on the trip, and the only one from the University of Alaska in Anchorage.

"I have a unique perspective on the Canada-U.S. partnership," she said, noting that trade between her state and Canada is worth half a billion annually, and the two exchange more than 100,000 tourists a year.

She added, however, that her impressions of this country were based more on a "western Canadian" perspective.

Ditto for Kevin Cumming, 29, who attends Rice University in Houston, Tex.

"Working in the energy field, I know the U.S. relies heavily on Canadian exports for energy, both power and oil and natural gas," he said. "Before coming here . . . we looked at Canada as a nation that exports resources to the U.S.

"I've learned that it's a lot more than energy exports."

Seeing Canada's diverse manufacturing belt and Ottawa's high tech cluster was a surprise, he said.

"My eyes have been opened to the diversity of the economy here," he said. "I've been to Vancouver, a very modern and beautiful city, and . . . Alberta, but it's just eye opening to be here in the eastern part, and it's very diverse. For example, we went to Montreal, and it was just a very interesting opportunity to see how different those folks are, their culture, their language."

The group went on tours of both Cisco System's facilities and Bombardier's airplane manufacturing site.

"We walked through the whole plant, looking at everything they're capable of doing up here. In terms of business going forward, (I won't) just look at U.S. vendors and providers. There's a whole wealth of very intelligent and highly-skilled and trained workers to the north that may be able to provide a better solution than what we can get in the U.S. We should not forget that," said Mr. Cumming.

"That was kind of the theme: remember Canada."

The goal of the program, organizers said, was to "familiarize America's next generation business leaders with Canada."

"The Canada-U.S. trade relationship is the largest in the world, and will impact the professional careers of these business graduates," said Micheal J. Kelly, dean at Telfer and one of the founders of the three-year-old program. "Any aspiring business professional should have an understanding of Canadian-U.S. business market structures and overall political and trade relations. They come away from this program with knowledge that will make them better business persons."

Tom d'Aquino, president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, participated in a panel discussion on North American integration with the students.

He said bringing just 20 American MBA students up to speed on Canada-U.S. relations has a trickle down effect on the entire country.

"It's like all things in life," he said, "each one of these individuals is an ambassador. If you say it's 20 this year, 20 last year and 20 the year before, it's already 60.

"Every one of these individuals is on the fast track to assuming positions of influence in due course. A week in Canada, a country they probably never really thought about, puts Canada on their radars, and educates them on how important it is . . . and when they go to their own businesses and become more influential, it makes them more knowledgeable, and that can't hurt."

The rising Canadian dollar, bemoaned lately by local manufacturers, was also a topic for the MBAs, but one that Mr. Cumming said could be turned into a win-win for both countries.

"The fact that the Canadian dollar is more expensive now, it makes it tougher for (manufacturers) to export their goods to the U.S." he said. "But this is a good (time) for the Canadian industry to become more productive, perhaps with investment in American machines and capital that will help make Canadian factories more productive, so they can continue to compete."

The students broke into groups at one point during their one-week stay, and discussed the border issue. The groups agreed that keeping the flow of goods steady while maintaining security was a more complex topic than they first thought.

Mr. Cumming said that before arriving, if someone had told him the border needed tightening, he would have asked how tightly. Lingering memories from 9-11, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the ongoing battle against terrorism on home soil, made thinking otherwise impossible.

Now, his feelings are a little more complex.

"It's easy for us to say, 'I can get behind that.' Coming up here and learning how (the passport issue) affects Americans who want to come up here, and how it impeded trade, it makes me think more of the consequences. It's a difficult issue.

"Being from Texas, when I thought of international (trade), my first thought was obviously Mexico," he continued. "Coming up here, I see there is a lot to tackle in the U.S.-Canadian relationship as well. Many improvements can be made in that trade partnership . . . such as the whole border issue, moving goods, people, and making things more efficient."

The students, Ms. Bennett said, eventually agreed that it will take strong leadership from politicians and business leaders to sort out the problems.

"There should be an overarching policy between the two countries," she said. "Once we have the leadership at the top, then we can move on the minutiae."

"Certainly, you can understand that no U.S. politician wants something to happen on their watch," said Mr. Cumming. "But as (Ms. Bennett) was saying, I think the border is just one issue on a larger scale of issues.

"There are things that Canada can do with regards to security that can help improve our relationship that will eventually lead to a loosening of these issues," he said, such as a better border screening process to reassure shaky U.S. politicians. "And perhaps one day, it can be a pretty fruitful border."