The Voice of the Border: Trade, immigration, infrastructure, health, agriculture, technology
BTA Podcast: Senator Cornyn and Commerce Secretary Gutierrez on Border Delays: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadU.S. Senator John Cornyn and U.S. Dept. of Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez speak about efforts being made to combat delays at land ports of entry in part two of the addresses from the recent Border Trade Alliance (BTA) International Conference in Washington, D.C. on Border Wait-Times. Senator Cornyn discusses steps that must be taken […]
BTA Podcast: Senator Hutchison & Congressman Reyes on Wait-Times Legislation: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadSenator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) recently addressed the attendees of the BTA International Conference in Washington D.C. on their legislative efforts to address a number of components contributing to delays at our borders. Senator Hutchison and Congressman Rodriguez have introduced and pressed for the passage of […]
The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) today announced its strong support for the PORTS Act, H.R. 5622, recently introduced by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX). The PORTS (Putting Our Resources Toward Security) Act authorizes significant increases in funding for security personnel and infrastructure at all U.S. land ports of entry in order to meet […]
Despite the recent political rhetoric against it, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) continues to be a resounding economic success and is largely driving growing U.S. exports, which remain a bright spot in an otherwise troubled economy.
Consider the following statistics regarding cross-border trade in North America:
- In 1992 prior to NAFTA, according […]
In our new podcast series, President of the Border Trade Alliance, Maria Luisa O’Connell, interviews The Honorable Richard Cortez, Mayor, City of McAllen, TX. In this exclusive interview Mayor Cortez provides a powerful perspective on the economic impacts facing the border region and our nation at large if progress is not made to resolve […]
The second day of 2008 marked the end of the remaining tariffs on agricultural products traded between the United States and Mexico, achieving a remaining objective of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Tri-lateral trade between NAFTA members, the United States, Canada and Mexico has increased dramatically since the 1994 inception of […]
On Thursday the House Homeland Security Committee held a field hearing in El Paso, Texas entitled, “Ensuring Homeland Security While Facilitating Legitimate Travel: The Challenge at America’s Ports of Entry.” GSA Administrator Lurita Doan, CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski and Richard Stana Director, Homeland Security and Justice at the Government Accountability Office were […]
The economic importance of trade is no more apparent than in U.S. border communities. The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) as an organization that represents border communities and trade has witnessed how cities along both the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders are integrally linked economically with their counterparts north and south and through them, the […]
Over $760 billion in trade using surface transportation took place between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico in 2006− 8.9 percent higher than in 2005.¹ This is no small drop in the bucket for our nation’s economy and certainly no small logistical task when it comes […]
The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) today expressed its disappointment in the passage of Senate Amendment 2797 to H.R. 3074, the FY2008 Appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and related agencies. The amendment, proposed by Senator Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND), prohibits the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from continuing a […]
