Proposed Alaska-Canada Rail Line Would Spur Growth Alaska/Canada trade may get a boost in the distant future if a proposal to link the Alaska Railroad with the Canadian rail system via a 1,200-mile (1,930 km.) rail corridor sees fruition. The Alaska Railroad currently ends at Eielson Air Force Base, near Fairbanks, about 270 miles (434 km.) from the Canadian border. The Canadian rail line stops about 900 miles (1,448 km.) from Alaska.         Legislation authored by Alaska Sen. Frank Murkowski created a bi-lateral commission in 2001 which will likely study the idea for several years. Murkowski estimates such a rail extension would carry up to 120 million tons (132,725 kg.) of freight per year, mostly from future mineral development and timber.

Strong Logistics Essential
To Border Trade

Ease of shipping into Mexico and Canada is likely near the top of the checklist in firms considering sites along both borders. Recent acquisitions by United Parcel Service are aimed at improving cross-border trade in the north and south.
        "We provide value-added services such as freight forwarding and specialized logistics," says John Flick, director of international public relations for UPS. "We help manage shipments that go across both borders including finished goods and components and everything from trade management to handling duties and taxes."
        In 2001, UPS expanded services for global shippers with the formation of a new business unit combining several recent acquisitions into a global customs brokerage and freight-forwarding business. Comprising the unit are the Fritz Companies, and seven brokerage and forwarding operations in border states and freight-forwarding interests previously held by UPS.
        Fritz is a recognized freight forwarder and customs brokerage with operations in 120 countries, while the seven other companies are considered leading brokers in handling goods being imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico.
        The geographically wide-ranging roster of import companies includes: H.A. & J.L. Wood, Inc. Pembina, N.D.; Border Brokerage Co. Blaine, Wash.; Fulfillment Systems International, Buffalo, N.Y.; Trans-Border Customs Service, Champlain, N.Y.; W.Y. Moberly, Sweetgrass, Mont.; Miles Group, El Paso, Texas; and William F. Joffroy, Nogales, Ariz.

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