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The opinions of individual BTA Border Blog contributors don't necessarily reflect the editorial position of Border Trade Alliance as a whole.

Jun 03

U.S. Border Ports Division Eliminated Prior to Obama’s GSA Administrator Confirmation Tomorrow

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Infrastructure. 0 Comments
GSA Land ports
US-Border Land Port Congestion
Border Trade Alliance Urges Nominee to Outline Plans to Ensure GSA Addresses Critical Border Ports Infrastructure Upgrades

Washington D.C. - Border Trade Alliance (BTA) strongly urges Ms. Martha N. Johnson, President Obama’s nominee to head the General Services Administration (GSA) to outline her intention to lead GSA in upgrading land border infrastructure during her June 3rd confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.  Last week, border communities and businesses were shocked by the GSA decision to eliminate their Land Port of Entry Division, the division responsible for U.S. border land ports.

In 2008, U.S. border land ports were responsible for facilitating more than $830 billion in cross-border trade and processed 45.7 million pedestrians, more than 10.7 million trucks and more than 107.5 million personal vehicles.  The sustained growth of North American land border trade is limited by overburdened and outdated infrastructure at U.S. land ports, most of which were built forty years ago and not designed to handle the volume of trade or the current security procedures conducted at our borders.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided GSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with $720 million for land port infrastructure upgrades.  However, the majority of the projects funded by GSA and CBP were at ports of entry with low crossing volumes, continuing the ongoing need for additional federal investment in infrastructure at our nation’s busiest ports.

BTA calls upon Ms. Johnson to respond to the following concerns during her confirmation testimony: Read More →

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Apr 02

GSA Plans $300m in Border Port Upgrades Aid Secure Trade

Published by Policy.
in Advocacy, Infrastructure, Press Releases. 0 Comments

Border ports photo for GSA post

 

Federal stimulus funds move towards addressing critical border port upgrades, but more long-term investment is needed to address increasing trade and security demands at the border.

Yesterday, the General Services Administration (GSA) submitted details to the U.S. Congress, on a proposed plan for border land port infrastructure spending, as approved under the recently enacted economic stimulus measure, H.R. 1 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  GSA was appropriated $300 million and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was allotted $420 million toward land port infrastructure upgrades as part of H.R. 1.

Border Trade Alliance (BTA) pressed Congress last year to include federal funding for land border crossing upgrades and resources to support the hundreds of thousands of jobs that depend on the $830 billion in cross-border economic activity conducted at U.S. shared borders with Canada and Mexico.  While the BTA is pleased that the U.S. Congress appropriated $720 million for border ports to GSA and CBP in the economic stimulus, a commitment to sustained investment in upgrading the U.S.’s decades-old, overburdened ports is essential to future economic growth and security.

The majority of U.S. border crossings were not designed to handle the volume of trade that has resulted with the success of the North American Free Trade Agreement or the increased security operations that have been brought online since 2001.  While the economic downturn has reduced the volume of crossings at many U.S. land ports, the value of cross-border North American trade last year rose to a record $830 billion, due largely to growth in U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico.
“The BTA appreciates that Congress and the Administration approved $720 million in the stimulus bill for much-needed border crossing infrastructure upgrades,” notes Erin Martin Ward, Chair of the BTA, “We need continued leadership at the federal level to ensure that the tremendous growth in NAFTA trade and the economic activity it has generated can be sustained.  Canada and Mexico are the U.S.’s largest two export markets and we cannot afford to overlook the additional funding needed to upgrade our land ports to facilitate their critical contribution to our national economy and our security.”

GSA’s announced plan for spending the $300 million include funding for the following port infrastructure projects ($1,000s USD): Read More →

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Mar 03

Leslie A. Bassett, U.S. Interim Ambassador to Mexico Addresses BTA in Mexico City

Published by Policy.
in Advocacy, Infrastructure, Import & Export, Travel & Immigration. 1 Comment

Ambassador at BTA Mexico city Conf. 2009

Leslie Bassett, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Mexico

Mexico City, February 24, 2009 – “I am optimistic that this time of trial, both in terms of economic and security challenges, will end in stronger trade ties, deeper security cooperation, and safer, more prosperous communities in both Mexico and the United States,” said Leslie Bassett, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, in an address to the attendees of the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) Mexico City Conference, “Security and Safety: The Impact On Cross-Border Trade.”

Watch the 2 part series of the presentation (in English) below:

Ms. Bassett told the assembled group of U.S. and Mexican businessmen, and government officials that the U.S. has accelerated the development of technologies that will make border crossings more efficient, and the targeting of border risks more accurate. She also noted there are more U.S. government officials working the border at ports of entry and areas in between than ever before, and that part of the economic stimulus bill President Obama recently signed, includes important resources for modernization of both the U.S.-Mexico and the U.S.-Canada borders - a result of successful BTA led campaigns to increase funding for border infrastructure and resources.

The interim ambassador reaffirmed commitments to U.S.-Mexican trade expounding the successes of NAFTA for all three partners, “So important is this movement of people and goods between our countries that seven of nine U.S. Consulates in Mexico are located in border states.” She noted that $1 billion in goods and services and 1 million people legally cross the US-Mexico border every day. Two-way trade in 2008 stood at $367 billion. The Mexican export component was $216 billion – 80% of Mexico’s total exports and 4.5 times more than the total at NAFTA’s implementation in 1994. She went on to note that “NAFTA lays a strong foundation for more than trade — this relationship will help us both weather the difficult economic season ahead.” Read More →

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Feb 26

Safety & Security: The Impact on Cross-Border Trade - BTA Conference Mexico City

Published by Policy.
in Advocacy, Import & Export, Travel & Immigration. 0 Comments

On Tuesday, February 24, 2009, in Mexico City - the Border Trade Alliance, in partnership with industry event heavyweight MexicoNow, hosted a landmark conference, aimed at finding solutions to public safety issues with respect to North American cross-border trade in the wake of the war against crime in Mexico.Serving as launching pad for furthered cooperation between the NAFTA countries on emerging public saftey and security issues, the conference brought cross-border trade stakeholders together with key private and public sector decision-makers, to present best-practices, testimonies, and key policy announcements that move towards finding solutions to critical issues.

The following is a brief summary of the event with links to videos, presentations, and transcripts from this important event.  BTA would like to thank the speakers and participants involved in making this event an extraordinary success.

Keynote: Secretary of the Interior for Mexico, Fernando Gomez Mont

Secretary Gomez Mont - BTA Conference Mexico 2009

 Secretary Fernando Gomez Mont

Secretary of the Interior for Mexico, Fernando Gomez Mont - the most powerful political figure after the president and the equivalent of a vice president and domestic security chief combined - whose agency oversees the fight against the nation’s drug cartels and corruption, delivered one of the conference keynotes and hosted an open Q & A for conference attendees.  In his impressive speech, the Secretary “reinforced” it’s commitment to eliminating organized crime and restoring public saftey for the future economic prosperity of Mexico and it’s neighbors, outlining domestic policies, strategies for collaboration at all levels of government, and the need for mutually beneficial international cooperation.

Watch video of the Secretary’s presentation/Q & A, or read a transcript in English and Spanish…

Keynote: Ms. Leslie A. Bassett, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, U.S. Embassy in Mexico

Ambassador at BTA Mexico city Conf. 2009

Leslie A. Bassett, Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim, U.S. Embassy in MX

Also featured at the event was keynote speaker Ms. Leslie A. Bassett, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim (Interim Ambassador to Mexico), American Embassy in Mexico. In her speech Ms. Basset reitterated the large successes of cross-border trade under NAFTA:  $1 billion in goods and services and 1 million people legally cross the US-Mexico border every day and two-way trade in 2008 stood at $367 billion.  She also confirmed U.S. commitment to addressing public saftey and assisting Mexico in it’s war against narco-trafficking, through the Merida initiative, while discussing successful BTA led efforts to improve infrastructure and increase resources at our land ports of entry that will make our borders smarter, more efficient, more secure to better facilitate the movement of goods and people in the 21st century.

Watch video of Ms. Leslie A. Bassett, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim’s presentation/Q & A, or read a transcript in English…

Senator Gustavo Enrique Madero Muñoz, President, Mexican Senate, addressed legislative, and international cooperation necessary to continue moving forward towards shared economic prosperity and safety.

Senator Luis Alberto Villarreal Garcia, President of the Senate’s North American Foreign Relations Committee, presented a detailed strategy for moving towards a more efficient and secure border.

PresentacióN Final Seguridad Y Fronteras

The following is the conference agenda. Speaker Presentations that were made available for distribution are available here or in the following slideshare window below:

Security: Roads & Rails Panel

Moderator: Eduardo Aspero, President, AMTI

Panelists:
James Kniestedt,Vice President for Security, KCSM
John Baird, General Manager, Freightwatch Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

Moderator:

Al Zapanta, President & CEO, US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Panelists: Mario A. Sanchez Montemayor, President, Nuevo Laredo Custom Brokers Association
Anne Crews, VP Government Relations, Mary Kay, Inc.
Lucinda Vargas, General Director, Juarez Strategic Plan Association

Security: Border Gateways
Moderator:

Hon. Richard F. Cortez, Mayor, City of McAllen, TX

Invited Panelists:

Hon. Octavio Garcia-Von Borstel, Mayor, City of Nogales, AZ
Hon. Oscar Luebbert Gutierrez, Mayor, Reynosa, Tamaulipas
Hon. Erick Silva Santos, Mayor, Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Hon. Ramon Garza Barrios, Mayor, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Hon. C. Jorge Ramos Hernandez, Mayor, Tijuana, Baja California

Security: Sonora State Actions and Results in Security
Speaker:

Remigio Martinez Cantu, Security and Technology Coordinator, State of Sonora

Security: Law Enforcement
Speaker:

William D. Newell, Special Agent in Charge, ATF

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Feb 16

$720m in Border Trade Infrastructure Funding in Economic Stimulus Bill

Published by Policy.
in Advocacy, Legislation. 2 Comments
Port Congestion Photo
Photo: Arizona Border Infrastructure Project
New Federal Attention in Addressing Trade and Travel Bottlenecks Will Help Support Millions of Jobs

In a move that will provide wide spread economic benefits by preparing our nation’s ports to meet the trade and security demands of the 21st century, the House and Senate included $720 million for infrastructure upgrades at U.S. land border ports of entry in the final conference agreement on the economic stimulus bill.

Border Trade Alliance, the organization that led the successful bi-partisan congressional effort to include border infrastructure funding in the stimulus, applauds congress for taking an important step in addressing the historic underinvestment at our nation’s port of entry.

According to President Obama and Speaker Pelosi, the key measurement for success of the economic stimulus is creating or saving 4 million jobs in the next year. Updating border ports infrastructure will not only help sustain jobs - 7.1 million jobs are generated by U.S.-Canadian trade alone - but will help to mitigate massive output losses resulting from nation-wide border congestion, which cost the US 55,675 jobs at California land ports in 2007.

The economic impact of investment at our nations’s POEs will not be confined to the border. In 2007, cross-border trade at U.S. land ports supported 3/4 of a trillion dollars in North American economic activity, which contributed more than $363 billion, over 2.5% of GDP, directly to our national economy. Additionally, 34 non-border states listed Canada, Mexico or both as their top two export markets, with many U.S. communities deriving a significant part of their local GDP from exports: Peoria, IL (52.3 percent, $9.2 billion); Davenport, IA (20.6 percent, $3.4 billion); and Cincinnati, OH (14.7 percent, $12.7 billion) are a few of the many specific examples.

Finally addressing the massive shortfall in POEs funding will begin to help reduce cross-border trade bottlenecks, resulting from overburdened and outdated infrastructure, that has added millions to the cost of doing business for manufacturers, transportation firms, and small businesses. Which in turn, will eventually help to lower the cost of goods for U.S. consumers and provide much needed increases in state and local sales tax revenue.


“Investment in cross-border trade and the infrastructure that supports it is a direct investment in the health of our national economy,” said Maria Luisa O’Connell, President of the Border Trade Alliance.  

Of the $720 million in total funding, $300 million will go to GSA for land port of entry infrastructure upgrades “not less than $300 million shall be available for border stations and land ports of entry” and $420 million for CBP “solely for planning, management, design, alteration, and construction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection owned land border ports of entry.”

Download the PDF Release: $720m in Economic Stimulus

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Feb 06

BTA & Heritage Foundation Host Bi-Partisan Event on Border Port Needs

Published by Events.
in Advocacy. 0 Comments
 Line of trucks at Mariposa Port of Entry
Trucks lined up at Mariposa/Nogales Port of Entry
Cross-Border Trade Contribution Critical to National Economy as California Land Port Congestion Alone Cost US 55,675 Jobs

Border Trade Alliance (BTA) and The Heritage Foundation are jointly hosting the event, “Facilitating Trade and Travel at America’s Ports of Entry,” to continue building bi-partisan support in addressing the urgent need to alleviate congestion at our nation’s underfunded and overburdened land border ports of entry (POEs), on Monday, February 9, 2009 from 11:00 am -12:00 pm EST at the Heritage Foundation’s Allison Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

Watch the event live 11 EST

Despite supporting nearly $800 billion in annual cross-border economic activity, years of inattention and underinvestment, have resulted in POEs along both the northern and southern borders that are clogged and inefficient. Trade is stifled, North American relations are strained, security is compromised, and the economic vitality of the border regions and our nation is being impaired.

In 2007, cross-border delays at California land ports alone, resulted in an annual “Output Loss” in “personal travel and freight movements” at a cost of 5.35 billion dollars and 55,675 jobs for the United States, according to the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS). Read More →

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Jan 16

House Economic Recovery Bill Includes $1.15 billion for Border Trade Infrastructure

Published by Policy.
in Advocacy, Infrastructure. 2 Comments
Investment in port infrastructure and security will strengthen $800 billion annual cross-border trade sector

January 15, 2009, Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee unveiled a major, comprehensive economic recovery bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes $1.15 billion in funding for crucial infrastructure upgrades at U.S. land ports of entry.  As the leading tri-national organization representing border communities and trade, Border Trade Alliance (BTA) praises the House’s strong action to address the significant border infrastructure and resource needs at our nation’s land ports of entry that support nearly $800billion in annual cross-border economic activity and national security operations.

BTA has long led efforts of border communities and trade to increasefederal investment at U.S. land ports of entry.  Most recently, inearly December of last year, in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader John Boehner,
BTA called for the inclusion of critical federal investment in port infrastructure as part of pending legislation to address the current national economic crisis by sustaining secure and efficient cross-border trade and its positive national economic impact. Additionally, BTA warned that continued underfunding threatens a growing number of cross-border trade dependent jobs throughout the country in industries such as tourism, manufacturing, retail, and transportation.

BTA also strongly supported the efforts of a bipartisan group of 11House Members, including Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Bob Filner (D-CA), John M. McHugh (R-NY), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Steve Kagen, M.D. (D-WI), and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), who in early November of last year urged House leadership to include $5 billion in infrastructure investment to upgrade U.S. land ports of entry to support cross-border trade.

“BTA appreciates the leadership of the House Members who pressed for inclusion of land port infrastructure funding as part of the economic stimulus legislation and we thank the House leadership and the Appropriations Committee for recognizing the significance of cross-border trade to the health of our national economy.  We look forward to similar action by the Senate,” stated Border Trade Alliance President Maria Luisa O’Connell.

Inclusion of ports infrastructure funding within the economic stimulus is a good first step in addressing the historic gap between the increasing level of cross-border trade and federal funding to support it.  Along with growing cross-border delays, overburdened and outdated infrastructure, inadequate staffing and associated resources, the long-term effects of underinvestment at our border dramatically undermines U.S. trade competitiveness; a situation that translates to direct increases in the cost of doing business for manufacturers,
transportation firms and small businesses, while raising the cost of U.S. consumer goods and reducing state/local sales tax revenue.

These factors, along with the current economic uncertainty, are already contributing to a slowing of growth in cross-border trade.  According to the latest federal government statistics, surface trade with Canada and Mexico in October increased, reaching $72.7 billion for the month, but 2.1 percent below last year’s pace.  The direct national economic contribution of cross-border travel and exports conducted at the U.S.land ports of entry last year totaled more than $360 billion - representing more than 2.5 percent of our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The significant investment in border infrastructure included in the Amercian Recovery and Reinvestment Act also addresses serious concernsabout the impact of outdated and overburdened infrastructure on homeland security operations at our nation’s 166 land ports.  At afield hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee in El Paso, Texas in January, 2008, CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski testified to this issue:

“The average age of our facilities is42-years-old and they were not designed for our current operations. Since the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, CBP has been given the priority mission of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, along with maintaining our legacy missions.  These heightened responsibilities are stretching our physical resources well-beyond what they were ever designed to handle. The vast majority of these facilities were not built to incorporate all of the enhanced security features that are now present at our ports of entry…Our facilities are stretched to the limit.”


Importance of Cross-Border North American Trade to Our National Economy:

  • According to the President’s Export Council, nearly 1/3 of the $14 trillion U.S. economy is directly generated by trade.
  • The United States’ two largest export markets are our NAFTA trading partners, Canada and Mexico.
  • In 2007, 34 non-border states listed Canada, Mexico or both as their top two export markets.
  • According to the Wall Street Journal, many U.S. communities derive a significant part of their local GDP from exports; Peoria, IL (52.3 percent, $9.2 billion); Davenport, IA (20.6 percent, $3.4 billion); and
    Cincinnati, OH (14.7 percent, $12.7 billion) are among many of the specific examples.
  • A 2008 National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) study reports that U.S. exports accounted for 61
    percent of our national economic growth during the past year, despiteour economic turmoil.
  • California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) and San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) associate a combined annual “Output Loss” in “personal travel and
    freight movements” in 2007, from cross-border delays at California land ports alone, at a total loss of 5.35 billion dollars and 55,675 jobs for the United States.

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Dec 15

Congress Urged to Mirror Border Infrastructure Funding in Senate Economic Stimulus Draft

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy. 0 Comments

In a letter to House of Representative Leaders, the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader John Boehner to mirror draft economic stimulus legislation before the Senate that dedicates $301 million toward border inspection facility upgrades at U.S. land ports of entry.  As the leading tri-national organization representing border communities and trade, BTA previously advocated for both the House and Senate to increase federal funding for border infrastructure and resources at our nation’s land ports of entry to support nearly $800 billion in annual cross-border economic activity.

In the letter BTA called for the inclusion of critical federal investment in port infrastructure as part of pending legislation to address current national economic crisis by sustaining secure and efficient cross-border trade and its positive national economic impact.  Additionally, BTA warns that continued underfunding threatens a growing number of cross-border trade dependent jobs throughout the country in industries such as tourism, manufacturing, retail, and transportation.

The economic importance of sustaining and enhancing our nation’s gateways is significant.  Last year alone, U.S. land ports of entry facilitated nearly $720 billion in goods traded between the United States, Canada and Mexico.  According to federal data, international trade directly supports more than 12 million U.S. workers and farmers and contributes nearly 1/3 of our annual GDP.

An historic gap exists between growing levels of cross-border trade and a lack of federal funding to support it. Over time, this gap in funding, coupled with cross-border delays and inadequate staffing, have undermined U.S. global competitiveness. Too, inadequate infrastructure can be blamed for increases in the cost of doing business. Typically, such increases are passed along to the consumer in the form of higher costs at the cash register. 


The economic impact of cross-border, NAFTA trade is not confined to the border.   In 2007, 34 non-border states listed Canada, Mexico or both as their top two export markets.  According to the Wall Street Journal, many U.S. communities derive a significant part of their local GDP from exports; Peoria, IL (52.3 percent, $9.2 billion); Davenport, IA (20.6 percent, $3.4 billion); and Cincinnati, OH (14.7 percent, $12.7 billion) are among many of the specific examples.   A recent National Association of Manufacturers’ study also reported that U.S. export-oriented manufacturers added 119,000 jobs to their payroll during the past year alone.  The economic activity at our borders plays a significant role in supporting real job growth, working families and supports vital domestic industries like agriculture and manufacturing.

In its letter to House leadership, the BTA noted that the ongoing shortfall in land port infrastructure investment coupled with the current economic crisis is already impacting cross-border trade.  The BTA further stressed the importance of infrastructure investment toward enhancing security along our borders with Canada and Mexico.


…the nation’s lack of adequate border infrastructure is contributing to a slowing of growth in trade nationwide. According to the latest U.S. statistics, surface trade with our largest two export markets in Canada and Mexico increased to $72.3 billion for the month of August, up 0.9 percent from July, but at the slowest pace yet this year.

While an immediate investment in border port-of-entry infrastructure will not reverse our current economic situation, it will provide benefit to cross-border trade, a sector of our economy that directly contributed $360 billion to the U.S. economy last year. It also will provide critical resources required by CBP to protect our citizens and secure our borders.  The BTA appreciates your serious consideration of funding for border infrastructure. Such funding would support a tremendous amount of daily economic activity and improve the ability of the federal officers at CBP to protect our homeland.

Reaffirming the importance of added investment in border infrastructure, at a January 2008 field hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee in El Paso, Texas, CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski testified to the impact of outdated and overburdened infrastructure on federal homeland security operations at our nation’s 166 land ports,

“The average age of our facilities is 42-years-old and they were not designed for our current operations.  Since the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, CBP has been given the priority mission of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, along with maintaining our legacy missions.  These heightened responsibilities are stretching our physical resources well-beyond what they were ever designed to handle.  The vast majority of these facilities were not built to incorporate all of the enhanced security features that are now present at our ports of entry…Our facilities are stretched to the limit.”

The BTA continues to stress that beyond its economic benefit, additional land port infrastructure investment provides federal agencies critical resources to facilitate the growing volume of trade while ensuring the protection of our citizens.

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Nov 17

BTA Urges Inclusion of Port Infrastructure Funding in Economic Stimulus Legislation

Published by Accounting.
in Advocacy, Infrastructure, Legislation. 2 Comments
Expedited Delivery of Critical Border Infrastructure Necessary to Sustain Positive Sector of National Economy

Monday, November 17, 2008, Phoenix, AZ - The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) urges Congress to support the recent call of border-state House members to include immediate funding for port and transportation infrastructure and resources as part of the economic stimulus package currently under consideration.  U.S. ports of entry, the cash registers of our nation, along our borders with Canada and Mexico handle nearly $800 billion in trade each year.  For decades, federal investment in infrastructure and resources at our ports of entry has not matched the need in order to sustain this growing level of trade.

Last week a group of bipartisan group of 11 House Members, including Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Bob Filner (D-CA), John M. McHugh (R-NY), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Steve Kagen, M.D. (D-WI), and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), sent a letter to House leadership urging inclusion of $5 billion in infrastructure investment to upgrade U.S. land ports of entry to support cross-border trade, to-date a positive sector in a troubled national economy.  The BTA, as the leading tri-national organization representing border communities and trade, has long advocated for increased federal investment in support of cross-border trade and commerce and commends these Congressional leaders for raising border infrastructure as a national economic priority.

According to the President’s Export Council, nearly 1/3 of the $14 trillion U.S. economy is directly generated by trade.  The United States’ two largest export markets are our NAFTA trading partners, Canada and Mexico.  A recent National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) study reports that U.S. exports accounted for 61 percent of our national economic growth during the past year, despite our economic turmoil.  According to the federal government 12 million American workers and farmers’ jobs are sustained by trade.  The economic activity at our borders plays a significant role in supporting real job growth, working families and supports vital domestic industries like agriculture and manufacturing.  The direct national economic contribution of cross-border travel and exports conducted at the U.S. land ports of entry last year totaled more than $360 billion.

Growing cross-border delays, overburdened and outdated infrastructure, and inadequate staffing and associated resources threaten to undermine U.S. trade competitiveness as well as directly impacting the cost of doing business for manufacturers, transportation firms, and small businesses while raising the cost of U.S. consumer goods and reducing state and local sales tax revenue.  BTA feels that decision makers in Washington should be alarmed by recent statistics that illustrate the economic impacts of inadequate border infrastructure and cross-border congestion. According to the Texas Transportation Institute’s 2007 Urban Mobility Report, congestion caused urban Americans to travel 4.2 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 2.9 billion gallons of fuel for a total estimated cost of $78 billion, with border regions being some of the most affected.

The BTA has continually recommended that federal resources must more closely match the economic contribution of our nation’s 166 land ports of entry.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection has stated that it alone requires $5 billion over the next 10 years in infrastructure maintenance and upgrades to its facilities at land ports of entry in order to support its dual mission of facilitating legitimate trade and travel facilitation and providing security along our borders.

The BTA has also consistently urged policymakers to better leverage the limited federal border resources by:

  • Ensuring that federal investment be re-focused on projects that alleviate the infrastructure bottlenecks at our ports rather than being directed to earmarks that have little if any national economic benefit.
  • Eliminating red tape at the State Department currently results in a delay of 7-10 years before a new port of entry can be approved for construction, with similar delays for improving existing infrastructure at many ports of entry.
  • Stressing the need for continual federal investment in low cost, high impact infrastructure and resource projects that serve to increase the efficiency of cross-border trade, travel and commerce while also improving public safety and security.
  • Utilizing private sector investment in border infrastructure.

“It is not too late for our political leaders to address the roadblocks at our nation’s ports that are impeding the growth of our export economy, which threaten to exacerbate an existing economic crisis of nearly unparalleled proportions and relegate the United States to a second-tier player in the global economy.” says BTA President Maria Luisa O’Connell.

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Aug 15

BTA, Key Federal Officials Meet to Discuss Border Security and Trade

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Infrastructure. 0 Comments
BTA Lead Panel of Experts on Effective Trade and Commerce

El Paso, TX - On Tuesday, August 12th, Border Trade Alliance (BTA) President Maria Luisa O’Connell addressed an audience of top-level policy-makers and border officials as part of the 5th Annual Border Security Conference. The event, hosted by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) and the University of Texas El-Paso focused on development of a Bi-National Strategy for Border Protection and Effective Commerce.

BTA President O’Connell addressed the topic of the conference during her presentation. Dallas Morning News quotes Ms. O’Connell in its media coverage of the event:

“Violence has had a large impact on border trade because it affects our perceptions of public safety,” said Maria Louisa O’Connell, president of the Border Trade Alliance. “We have to be careful that we give people an accurate understanding based on facts, not scare stories.”

Ms. O’Connell, addressing the fifth annual conference on border security at the University of Texas at El Paso, said the nation’s preoccupation with tightening security along the border in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks has had an adverse effect on trade.

“That is why one of our biggest challenges now is to restore a sense of balance between trade and security,” she said Tuesday. “The money from trade generates taxes, which pays for homeland security.”

During the “Effective Trade and Commerce” panel at this week’s conference, BTA President O’Connell was joined by panelists Lic. Jorge Cazares Castillo, Director of Border Affairs at the Secretary of Economy, Mexico; Jamie Estrada, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing at the U.S. Department of Commerce; and Thomas Winkowski the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During her presentation, BTA President O’Connell also stressed, to the many high-level federal officials attending the conference, the need for federal attention and action on border issues, which are of national significance:

“We have to continue to coordinate as partners to examine the comprehensive cross-border system along both our borders with Canada and Mexico, matching resources with needs and ensuring that in providing for the security of our homeland we also protect our ability to conduct legitimate cross-border economic activity that is a critical component to our national economic health.”

The Border Trade Alliance is continuing its efforts to bring national attention to the critical need for increased federal investment in infrastructure and resources at our nation’s land ports of entry. During the past year, the BTA has brought forward a groundswell of momentum behind the growing concern of increased delays at land border crossings throughout the U.S-Canada and U.S. –Mexico borders. BTA advocacy efforts during the past year toward Congress, federal agencies and national media have resulted in numerous Congressional hearings, countless national media articles, and the introduction of several major bills designed to address the underlying issues driving cross-border delays.

Some examples of BTA success in generating national attention and results from last year’s Border Wait-Times campaign:

BTA Requests Federal Action to Support Economic Viability of Nation’s Ports

Americas 2020 Summit: BTA Recommends Solutions to 21st Century Border Issues

House Holds Hearing on BTA Endorsed Border Legislation

BTA Podcast: Senator Cornyn and Commerce Secretary Gutierrez on Border Delays

BTA Podcast: Senator Hutchison & Congressman Reyes on Wait-Times Legislation

Border Trade Alliance Issues Support for Critical Legislation Impacting Border Wait-Times

Benefits of NAFTA Threatened by Cross-Border Wait-times: Legislators push to study effects on Economy

BTA Welcomes Legislation to Study Wait-times - Urges Swift Passage

GSA Administrator Presses for More Infrastructure at the Border

BTA Hosts Successful International Conference on Border Issues

BTA Grassroots Campaign on Border Wait Times

Increased Inspections at the Ports of Entry: 60% check of identification

House Committee Holds Hearing on Wait-times Part 2

House Committee Holds Hearing on Wait-times Part 1

BTA Testifies at U.S. House Committee Hearing on Balancing Security and Commerce

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