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