Founded in 1986, the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) is a grassroots, non-profit organization that serves as a forum for participants to address key issues affecting trade and economic development in North America. Working with entities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the BTA advocates on behalf of policies and initiatives designed to improve border affairs and trade relations among the three nations.
“The Border Trade Alliance has been one of the Department’s strongest partners, offering ideas, energy, solutions and sweat to help us secure our borders while facilitating commerce.”
“You helped organize the private sector efforts in support of building a FAST lane in Nogales . You were our most important partner in this achievement - organizing and directing the efforts of the private sector. … Under the leadership of President Maria Luisa O’Connell, BTA actually rolled up its sleeves to help, raising $1 million in private funds to build that road.”
“With your help - and together with our partners in Mexico - we created a Border Partnership Action Plan that focuses on protecting our infrastructure and securing the flow of people and goods so vital to our border communities.”
“These are remarkable achievements in such a short period of time - achievements that would not be possible without great partners such as the Border Trade Alliance.”
Admiral James Loy
Deputy Director, Homeland Security
‘I also want to acknowledge the valuable role the Border Trade Alliance has played. Your view that the economic health of the border region is a matter of homeland defense is widely shared and certainly an impetus to our approach. You have been ahead of your time in urging reform such as pre-screening and visa tracking. Your groundbreaking policy conferences, including this one on safe and efficient trade, continue to help us shape the debate…
The terrorist attacks of September 11th brought our three nations together and deepened our reliance upon one another. Terrorism transcends boundaries and borders, just like our global economy. Working together, with the Border Trade Alliance at our side, we will protect our people and our way of life.
The Border Trade Alliance’s work has led to smarter borders, freer trade and a better quality of life for North American societies. But there is still more work to do. So as you meet today, I encourage you to continue to identify innovative ways for technology and strategic partnerships to enable efficient more secure trade. And on behalf of the Administration, I also thank you for the work you’ve done to enhance the standard of living in all of our countries.’
Tom Ridge
Former Secretary, Dept. Homeland Security
“Through the work of the BTA’s Maquiladora and Production Sharing Committee, Delphi has benefited from the input it receives from legal and policy experts, as well as from citizens and community leaders who live and breathe life along the border.
That is what makes the BTA such a unique and powerful collaborator- it offers multinational corporations like ours the opportunity to hear directly from the people who are affected by the work we do in the border region, while offering us unprecedented access to key decision makers in Washington, D.C.”
David G. Bodkin
Director, Corporate Affairs South America & Mexico, Delphi
“The BTA looks at the border economy not as an area forgotten in the high-growth economy of NAFTA, but as a source of abounding opportunities. For almost four years, I have worked closely with the BTA to bring the promise of NAFTA and the global economy to communities like Edinburg, Mercedes and Donna in my South Texas district.”
Rubén Hinojosa
Member of Congress, 15th District, Texas
“Improving the business climate and quality of life in southern New Mexico has always been a top priority of mine. Anyone familiar with this region of our country can tell you that the challenges faced by entrepreneurs there are the same as those faced by other parts of rural America combined with other factors unique to the border region.
The specific knowledge of the border region possessed by you, your staff and members of your board were instrumental in helping to make my [South Regional Border Authority Act] legislation successful.”
