Homework Responses Wk 6 & 2

The impact of smart border technology on operations, policy, and strategy enables rapid response time to imminent threats such as illegal crossing in real-time while adjusting tactical maneuvers. The challenge becomes consensus, and intellectual property thief risks while avoiding economic losses. According to Nash-Hoff (2015, para. 7), the following consequential risks of IP theft on the U.S.economy.

· ”Hundreds of billions of dollars per year. The annual losses are likely to be comparable to the current annual level of U.S. exports to Asia—over $300 billion...”

· Millions of jobs. If IP were to receive the same protection overseas that it does here, the American economy would add millions of jobs.

· A drag on U.S. GDP growth-better protection of IP would encourage significantly more R&D investment and economic growth.

· Innovation. The incentive to innovate drives productivity growth and the advancements that improve the quality of life. The threat of IP theft diminishes that incentive.

 

In essence, if congress, the administration, and World Trade Organization (WTO) cannot effectively resolve through free trade agreements, then perhaps imposing “a tariff on all Chinese-origin imports, designed to raise 150% of all U.S. losses from Chinese IP theft in the previous year, as estimated by the secretary of commerce” (Nash-Hoff, 2016, par. 17) secures U.S. economic activities.

Dames (2019) asserts that implementing a smart wall strategy by internet technology better addresses the illegal border crossings and readily available through “in-ground sensors, security cameras, and software solutions” (par. 2) while reducing installation and completion time. Most estimates claim building the great wall will require years to complete the thousands of miles stretch along the border while seeking remedies to settle legal battles over an eminent domain of property. Meanwhile, implementation delay continues to weaken border safety, and security measures as immigration intensifies.  

On the one hand, building and maintaining the generous wall estimates from $20 billion upwards to $70 billion as opposing “to estimates on the high side a solution of $500,000 per mile – far below the $24.5 million per mile price tag of the government’s” (CNN, 2017, par.4). 

Smart walls illustrate a cost-effective and shorter installation time while projecting inexpensive maintenance and system updates despite the high risk for hacking activities. 

On the other hand, a great wall will impact economic activities along the border as people trade and access plants and animals between borders while enhancing their survival livelihood. In other words, a physical fence affects the environment, such as flooding, while disrupting pertinent ecosystems along the border supporting living standards. Subsequently, patrolling 2,000 miles of rough mountain terrains, including rivers and valleys, prevent access to a significant portion along the borderline left unpatrolled. The use of a digital camera by drones offers enhanced surveillance across a vast terrain, and in-ground sensors offer to detect movement as patrolmen scan hundreds of miles instantaneously. Technological solutions better prevent illegal crossing and aid in search and rescue events when they arise (Dames, 2019; Kopan, 2017).

Although a new Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement presents an opportunity to improve intellectual property protection in the United States, IP infringement is costly to protect ideas and innovations while threatening company productivity and profits (JEC, 2012). In essence, IP infringement averages over $100 million in revenue losses and $1.4 million in enforcement costs while reducing potential profits by $43 million. But is this a solid reason not to pursue building a smart wall while illegal crossings intensify? Perhaps not, but congress, executive, and WTO can no longer afford procrastination, particularly during COVID recovery period.

Xavier

Dames, J. (2019). 6 ways a ‘smart wall’ could solve the border security problem. Website

CGN.    6 ways a 'smart wall' could solve the border security problem -- GCN

Nash-Hoff, M. (2016). What Could be Done about China's Theft of Intellectual Property?

Industry Week.  What Could be Done about China's Theft of Intellectual Property? | IndustryWeek

Joint Economic Committee (2012). The Impact of Intellectual Property Thief on the Economy.

intellectual-property-theft-and-the-economy.pdf (senate.gov)

Kopan, T. (2017). First on CNN: Border lawmaker teams up with Silicon Valley on ‘smart

wall.’ Website.   Border lawmaker attempts to drive on wall debate (cnn.com)