Sean Carlos Cázares Ahearne Deputy Director General for Border Affairs Mexico s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The US-Mexico relation is a complex and mature relation with strengthened principles of interdependence and co- responsibility with regards to our common challenges. Security and Competitiveness are two sides of the same coin. The understanding between both countries on the way to promote the competitiveness of our interdependent economies is truly unprecedented. 2/17
Both countries are actively working to enhance the harmonization of standards, to cooperate in regulatory matters and to support the North-South transnational production chains spanning over the three North American countries. One of the key challenges ahead is to fully comply with NAFTA provisions. It is a priority of Mexico to find a solution to the cross-border trucking dispute, based on technical evidence that confirms Mexican trucks are as safe as US vehicles. 3/17
Mexico and the US maintain a busy and intense relationship, with the daily crossing of more than 2.3 million people and 300 thousand vehicles through 54 border crossings. Approximately 70% of the total trade between Mexico and the United States is conducted by truck, while 16.4% by sea and 8.4% by rail. The remaining is done by other means of transportation. Trade between Mexico and the U.S. has grown exponentially, but our border facilities have not grown accordingly. From 1993 to 2008, exports from the US to Mexico have grown 223% and exports from Mexico to the US, 396%. Border crossings between both countries has grown only 10%. 4/17
We have acknowledged a shared interest in creating a border that promotes economic competitiveness for the whole of North America, enhancing regional security through safe, efficient, rapid, and lawful movement of goods and people. President Obama and President Calderón have recognized the potential value of a collaborative administration of their common border through the Declaration by The Government Of The United States Of America and The Government Of Mexico Concerning Twenty-First Century Border Management on May, 2010. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/declaration-governmentunited-states-america-and-government-united-mexican-states-c 5/17
Both Governments have expressed their commitment to strenghten cooperation by: Enhancing economic competitiveness by expediting lawful trade, while preventing the transit of illegal merchandise Facilitating lawful travel and enhancing secure flows of goods and people, and Disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and punishing their members and supporters. Making the communities in border states partners in efforts to protect public safety by integrating law enforcement efforts with social assistance, community outreach, and responsiveness to citizen concerns. 6/17
Bi-national Initiatives for Enhancing the secure flow of goods an people A standardized collection and single entry of trade data in Mexico and the U.S., simplifying the import and export process of goods. Explore options for pre-inspections, pre-screening and pre-clearance at locations of mutual interest to the US and Mexico. Coordination of an orderly, secure and legal movement of people between Mexico and the U.S. 7/17
Bi-national Initiatives for Enhancing the secure flow of goods an people Development of a single, shared set of priorities for public investments in ports of entry along the border, as well as innovative and long standing funding mechanisms for such projects. Full staffing at Ports of Entry in both countries to guarantee their optimal functionality. Expansion of trusted traveler programs(sentri, FAST & and others), increase their capacity and improve their operability and efficiency by expanding infrastructure and staffing where needed. 8/17
SENTRI (Secure Network for Traveler s Rapid Inspection) has become the most efficient mechanism to facilitate crossborder flows at the Mexican and U.S ports of entry, reducing wait times through more efficient inspection lanes. Mexico and the US carry out negotiations to determine possible sites for the construction of new SENTRI lanes. Mexico has taken the following actions in order to provide more flexibility for users: Confinement of SENTRI access lanes. Analysis of payment alternatives (prepaid cards). Flexibility to allow crossings through all SENTRI lanes with a single membership. 9/17
FAST (Free and Secure Trade) facilitates the safe entry of goods into the United States through confined lanes and a pre-certification process with Customs and Border Protection (CBP)- Ongoing discussions between Mexico and the US will help identify future needs for the further development of FAST and define priorities and recommendations that allow a continuous improvement process. Mexico and the US carry out negotiations to determine possible sites for the construction of new FAST lanes. 10/17
US Mexico Border Infrastructure Recent Achievements In recent years, Mexico and the United States have reached remarkable levels of understanding and coordination regarding the development of border infrastructure. We agree on the importance of the border as a region of opportunity and bi-national cooperation and carry out efforts in order to strengthen security and encourage commercial trade. The development of new infrastructure at the U.S.-Mexico border suffered a historical impasse. However, in early 2007 we achieved the simultaneous construction of three new ports of entry: Reynosa-McAllen Anzaldúas (Tamaulipas-Texas) *Inaugurated January 2010. San Luis Río Colorado San Luis II, (Sonora-Arizona) *Inaugurated November 2010. Río Bravo-Donna (Tamaulipas Texas). *To be inaugurated December 2010 11/17
Reynosa-McAllen Anzaldúas Mexican inspection buildings First day of operations 12/17
Reynosa-McAllen Anzaldúas Anzalduas International Bridge, first international bridge between Mexico and the US in 10 years. President Felipe Calderón and US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk during the opening ceremony. 13/17
San Luis Río Colorado II Inaugurated November 4th 2010. Bridge connecting the Mexican POE to the US side Inspection Facilities 14/17
San Luis Río Colorado II San Luis Rio Colorado San Luis II Border Crossing. President Felipe Calderón, Governor Guillermo Elías Padrés and U.S. Consul General in Nogales, Sonora, John Dinkelman, during the opening ceremony. 15/17
Río Bravo - Donna Under construction. To be inaugurated in December 2010. Construction of the inspection facilities in Mexico 16/17
Final Remarks Achieving a comprehensive modernization of the border is the stepping-stone for the enhancement of North America s regional competitiveness. Secure the flow of people and goods between our countries while expediting legitimate commerce and travel, and reducing the duration and variability of wait times. Our geographical proximity is the only advantage that we share permanently; hence the development of a world class infrastructure with a binational scope highways, railways, land ports and seaports is essential to enable timely and efficient supply to producers and consumers. The support and involvement of the United States Congress will be key for the success of these efforts. Coordinated work between the Legislative and Executive Branches of both countries is critical to achieve our goals. 17/17