With the exception of Canada, these countries are anywhere from 6 to 24 months behind the U.S. in their Y2K remediation efforts. Canada is very close to the U.S. in terms of preparedness. Likewise, the news from Mexico is not altogether negative. Although it is estimated to be between 6 to 9 months behind us, in June of 1998, Mexico began an well-organized Y2K effort to ensure their key infrastructures and economic sectors would not be seriously disrupted. However, we remain concerned that other key nations and regions could experience some upheaval.
Imports account for about half of our nation s overall oil consumption.
This fact coupled with the slow rate of Y2K progress on the part of most of our major foreign oil suppliers, creates an issue of great strategic and economic concern to the United States. Another serious international concern is the lack of information on the Y2K status of maritime shipping and international ports. No news does not necessarily mean no progress, but we need information. K problems is of increasing concern to the Committee. Staff members from this Committee recently attended high-level discussions between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow.