Border Trade Alliance

June 7th, 2008, Monterrey, Mexico - In a landmark achievement, BTA President O’Connell was one of the first ever non-governmental leaders to speak before the US & Mexican Legistlators at 47th Interparliamentary Meeting in Mexico in its long and prestigious history. The purpose of the bi-national gathering of legislators was to define ways to contribute and consolidate the relationship between our two countries and generate progress and development in the region.

O’Connell addressed specific areas in which bi-national legislative efforts were necessary to enhancing North American competitiveness, removing barriers to shared prosperity, and improving the environment for cooperative cross-border trade. She made legislative recommendations on topics such us infrastructure, transparency of regulations, public safety, and the need to have a more realistic management of expectations when it comes to balancing security and economic security. Urging cooperation and fore-thought, O’Connell stressed the potential implications on our North American economies if we fail to adequately address today’s critical issues at our borders.

Following the presentation, President O’Connell established an agreement with the legislators to communicate directly with BTA to further the discussion and collaborate on shaping future legislative efforts.

Milestones from the 47th meeting included:

1. Congressmen from Mexico and the United States agreed on the condition of the dismissal of the Merida initiative an during the inauguration of the Interparliamentary Meeting.
2. On the issue of migration the Mexican delegation worked to see that “there is a legal contract for Mexican workers, who were granted benefits and would be treated with dignity.”
3. Deputies of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) recommended that the Mexican delegation to promote a permanent working group between the two Congresses, to assess and discuss the strategy for bilateral cooperation against organized crime, but without conditionalities.
4. During the conference, legislators from both countries held a meetings with businessmen in Mexico and the United States to discuss “the role of the Legislature in boosting North American competitiveness.”

Objectives outlined for the 47th Interparliamentary Meeting were:

1. Understand, based on first hand accounts from the private sector, what are the challenges of the region in achieving greater competitiveness.
2. Analyze Legislature’s role in promoting the competitiveness between Mexico and the United States, related to the facilitation of trade and the need for increased security to combat organized crime.
3. Agree on a working agenda, as well as dates to a visit to a border crossing, in order to learn first-hand an example of the current flow of trade between Mexico and the United States.
4. Analyze the level of cooperation between Mexico and the United States in the fight against crime and drug trafficking organizations, and the role that Congress has in making the fight more effective.
5. Analyze what level of cooperation is needed between Mexico and the United States so that migration between the two countries is legal, orderly and secure, and with full respect for human rights.

Members of the Mexican delegation:

Mexico Senators

• Santiago Creel Miranda (PAN) (Co-chair)
• Ricardo Garcia Cervantes (PAN) (Vice President)
• Rosario Green Macias (PRI)
• Eloy Cantu Segovia (PRI)
• Gustavo Madero Munoz (NAP)
• Silvano Aureoles Rabbit (PRD)
• Felipe González Gonzalez (PAN)
• Ludivina Menchaca Castellanos (PVEM)
• Jose Luis Lobato Campos (Convergencia)
• Alberto Anaya Gutierrez (PT)

Mexico Chamber of Deputies

• Zavaleta Ruth Salgado (PRD) (Chairman)
• Maria Elena Alvarez Bernal (PAN) (Vice President)
• Raymundo Cardenas Hernandez (PRD)
• Valladolid Antonio Rodriguez (NAP)
• Alejandro Burguete Chanon (Convergencia)
• Aida Marina Arvizu Rivas (Alternativa)
• Verónica Velasco Rodríguez (PVEM)
• Jacinto Gómez Pasillas (PANAL)
• Jacques and Jose Medina (PRD)
• Rodolfo Solis Parga (PT)
• Martin Javier Zambrano Elizondo (NAP)
• Edmundo Ramirez Martinez (PRI)
• Enrique Serrano Escobar (PRI)

Members of the U.S. delegation:

US Senate

• Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) (Chairman)
• Bob Corker (R- Tennessee)

US House of Representatives

• Ed Pastor (D-Arizona) (Chairman)
• Zoe Lofgren (D- California)
• Jerry Weller (R- Illinois)
• Silvestre Reyes (D- Texas)
• Rubén Hinojosa (D-Texas)
• Brian Bilbray (R-California)
• Ciro Rodríguez (D- Texas)
• Raul Grijalva (D- Arizona)
• Devin Nunes (R- California)

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