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working with international partners to respond to pressing drug issues. Bilateral efforts are effective in addressing more limited situations, but in recent years, the United States has increasingly turned to multilateral fora to help reduce the international manufacturing and trafficking « « « « « « 94 NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY of dangerous synthetic drugs. These multilateral drug policy fora bring together a wider community of partners willing to work in concert to address global drug policy issues and improve the health and welfare of communities around the world. To support the objectives of the National Drug Control Strategy, harness the collective power of the global community, and promote effective outcomes, the Department of State should continue leveraging key international organizations to promote sharing of data on emerging trends, exchange best practices to address the broad range of issues associated with the illicit global drug market, and press for an enhanced focus on addressing the proliferation of synthetic drugs. In particular, the Department of State should use the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the decision-making body for anti-drug efforts by the United Nations, to promote U.S. drug control priorities and hold our international partners accountable for their responsibility to help stem the flow of illicit synthetic drugs. The Department of State, with support from federal partners, should also accelerate efforts in these multilateral fora to place new psychoactive substances and uncontrolled or designer precursor chemicals under international control and urge the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) and the INCB to rapidly review priority substances and chemicals of concern for international control on a regular basis. B. Draw upon long-standing relationships with like-minded partners in Asia, the Western Hemisphere, and Europe to address the changing dynamics and increasing sophistication of the global drug trade, through regional multilateral fora. (Agencies Involved: DHS/CBP, ICE; DOJ/ATF, DEA, FBI; DOS; Treasury; USPIS) Regional multilateral fora provide important venues to advance U.S. policy priorities with likeminded partners in key regions such as Asia, the Western Hemisphere, and Europe and ensure effective implementation of international drug control conventions. This includes engagement through the NADD, OAS/CICAD, the U.S.-EU Political Dialogue on Drugs, and the Five Eyes. During the June 2016 North American Leaders Summit (NALS), the heads of government from the United States, Mexico, and Canada agreed to establish the trilateral NADD to address current and emerging drug threats facing North America. 349 In 2021, members to NALS reaffirmed their commitment, pledging to continue the NADD and establish objectives defining a comprehensive approach to address the global illicit drug environment.350 The annual meetings are held at the Assistant Secretary level, and throughout the year trilateral trainings, study tours, and information exchanges occur at the subject matter expert level. The NADD brings together law enforcement and health officials from all three countries to address the many facets of the transnational opioid overdose epidemic, illicit psychostimulant threats facing each country, and the broader drug crisis facing North America. Because of its composition and collaborative nature, the NADD has proven able to respond to the dynamics of the The U.S.-Canada Joint Action Plan on Opioids is a key mechanism to address the changing dynamics of the drug trade affecting both countries. Agreed to by the President and Prime Minister, the Action Plan was formally launched in Washington, D.C. January 31, 2020 and establishes a bilateral steering committee and three working groups focused on law enforcement, border security, and health. « « « « « « NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY 95 illicit drug marketplace and produce results in a timely manner, and the leaders of all three countries have spoken about its value. The US-EU Political Dialogue on Drugs is a bi-annual mechanism to coordinate and advance drug policy priorities, including in advance of multilateral meetings; share emerging issues of concern; and coordinate technical assistance to third countries. 351 Topics covered in 2021 included preparation for the 64th Commission on Narcotic Drugs, addressing new psychoactive substances and synthetic drugs, the impacts of the evolving situation in Afghanistan on drug trafficking, along with alternative development in Peru. The U.S. will continue to utilize this partnership to deepen cooperation and collaboration, especially related to the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals. The Organization of American States anti-drug component (OAS/CICAD) works to address the hemisphere’s drug problems by translating global treaty and policy frameworks for drug control into practical action at the regional level through mutual accountability frameworks, policy debates and dialogues, law enforcement information sharing, and technical assistance programs. As its primary benefactor, the United States supports CICAD to address the top drug supply threats and demand issues affecting the western hemisphere. The United States will continue to support CICAD efforts to 

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