Americas

Promoting Cross-Border Trade

A California Highway Patrol commercial vehicle inspector directs a truck entering the U.S. from Mexico. (file)

Trade between the United States and Mexico will be easier, faster and safer in 2012.

Trade between the United States and Mexico will be easier, faster and safer in 2012 thanks to a newly-launched reciprocal shipper program.

U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne joined Secretary of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) José Antonio Meade Kuribrena and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin (CBP) in Mexico City on December 15th at the inauguration of Mexico’s trusted shipper program. This program expedites border crossings for U.S. commercial shipments into Mexico, just as Mexican commercial shipments enjoy expedited crossings into the U.S.

“Thanks to this program,” Secretary Meade said, “moving goods across the border will be easier and faster, shipments will be better protected, and import export times will improve, thus increasing the level of competitiveness of participating companies, and along with that, the competitiveness and logistics capacity of the country.”

Commissioner Bersin said the creation of the trusted shipper program in Mexico “is an important step towards ensuring the flow of commerce and visitors between our countries.”

“The Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program implemented by the United States to allow quicker access for Mexican goods into the U.S. market has played an important role in boosting trade between our two countries,” Ambassador Wayne said. “I congratulate Mexico on this reciprocal program, which will further strengthen the economic ties and economic security of our two nations.”

The C-TPAT program is a clearance program for low risk shipments entering the United States from Canada and Mexico that facilitates expedited processing for commercial carriers at various U.S. land border ports. Key benefits of C-TPAT enrollment include access to dedicated lanes, a reduced number of inspections, and reduced delays at the border. Mexico’s Esquema de Empresas Certificadas (NEEC) reciprocates this program for U.S. shippers.

The United States values its partner Mexico and looks forward to increased trade that will benefit the people of the United States and the people of Mexico.