Ongoing challenges resulting from the pandemic that risk disruptions to trade and travel
- Preventing disruptions to trade and travel
- Anticipating surges in asylum-seeking migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border
- Ensuring all work performed in FTZs qualifies for USMCA
- Congressional participation in and oversight of tariff policy, including Sec. 232 tariffs
Preventing supply chain disruptions
Promoting free trade in North America
Achieving economic growth and security
- Ensuring all work performed in FTZs qualifies for USMCA
- Promoting a trade agenda that is not calibrated around trade deficits
- Congressional participation in and oversight of tariff policy, including Sec. 232 and Sec. 301
Innovative trade processing solutions
- 21st Century Customs Framework
- Unified Cargo Processing
- Technological pre-inspection
- Trade-friendly public-private partnerships
Improving trade efficiencies
- Implement consistent metrics for border wait times
Promoting cross-border travel
- Strengthening trusted traveler programs
- Supporting policies that encourage tourism
- Reforming visa policy
Strengthening trusted shipper programs
- Making trusted shipper programs more attractive to business
- Encourage the U.S. and Mexico to develop mutually beneficial relationships
- Harmonization of standards where possible
- Monitor progress of USDA organic certification program
- Advocate for consistent enforcement of USDA regulations on wood pallets and wood packaging materials
Ensuring strong diplomatic ties
Properly resourced ports of entry
- Staffing levels commensurate with trade and travel policies
A transparent enforcement regime
Cross-border cooperation and harmonization
- Resist growth of non-tariff barriers to trade
- Harmonization of standards where possible
- Monitor progress of USDA organic certification program
Technology, policies and procedures that facilitate trade, reduce delays
- Seek funding for additionl non-intrusive inspection technology equipment at the major produce-crossing land ports
- Increase refrigerated inspection capacity
- Ensure Unified Cargo Processing encompasses all trade, including produce and livestock
Representation for agricultural trade needs in Congress
- Border state representation on relevant committees
Support a long-term, pro-trade transportation plan
- Implementation of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Improving border infrastructure, especially in and around ports of entry
- Improving the Donation Acceptance Program
- Upgrading border region environmental infrastructure and technology
- The development of new infrastructure financing options
Enhancing technological infrastructure
- Dramatically increasing broadband access at ports of entry
- Shift to command center model
- Deploy leading-edge non-intrusive inspection equipment that can lead to 100 percent inspections
A regulatory environment to encourage trade throughput and enhance border infrastructure
- Improve the permitting process
- A multi-modal freight strategy is beneficial
Esuring safe cross-border transportation
- Consistently applied, border-wide safety inspection regime
Increasing freight capacity at seaports