Border Trade Alliance Conducts High-Level Meetings with Mexican Customs Officials

BTA shares ideas for improving U.S. – Mexico trade in Mexico City Meetings

SAN ANTONIO- Border Trade Alliance leaders recently held high-level talks with Mexican customs officials in Mexico City where the parties discussed ways to improve trade facilitation across the U.S.-Mexico border.  The Aduanas officials also agreed to meet with BTA on a regular basis to ensure that these productive discussions continue.

BTA Chair Kathy Neal and BTA President Nelson Balido led the discussions that centered on how the U.S. and Mexico can work collaboratively to find new ways to expedite trade and travel and strengthen the border region economy.

The BTA also interfaced with an economics officer from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to round out the group’s visit to the Mexican capital.

The meetings took place at Mexico’s Aduanas headquarters where officials received Neal, Balido and BTA Executive Committee Member Teclo J. Garcia, who represented the City of McAllen. The meetings were the result of several months of planning utilizing the BTA’s unique relationships in Mexico and with officials at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C.

All told, the BTA visited with eight officials from the Administración General de Aduanas.

The BTA was able to present to the Mexican leaders an overview of the BTA’s mission, a discussion of how the organization functions and how it can help foster talks and relationships in the U.S.

Additionally, the BTA raised several issues directly concerning security, human resources and infrastructure challenges at crossing points along the border. Mexican Customs was able to present to the BTA its plans for border crossings in the future and gave status reports on port security programs it has recently installed.

The diplomatic but frank conversations were appreciated by both sides. The Customs leaders agreed to meet with the BTA regularly and continue the open dialogue with the organization’s leadership.

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About the Border Trade Alliance:

Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to the environment, border development, quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life of border communities through trade and commerce.