U.S. and Mexico Agree to Additional Border Initiatives to Improve Security and Trade Facilitation

June 21, 2009

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued a press release announcing an agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that is intended to increase security in both country and facilitate legal trade and travel. The agreement is designed to build on current collaboration between the two countries and establishes a roadmap for the following bi-national initiatives:

• Single Entry Form: Establish a harmonized customs clearance process to increase trade facilitation and ability of the two countries to share information.
• Port Security Committees: To examine the southbound strategy for checking and inspecting vehicles traveling south to Mexico and to increase data sharing on items such as stolen cars.
• Customs   Capacity   Building: Assisting Mexico in training more customs officers by using the agenda and curricula used in the U.S.

According to the press release, these initiatives in addition to existing programs such as the Merida Initiative and the southwest border counter narcotics strategy, will increase security in both countries by stopping the flow of illegal arms being shipped to Mexico from the U.S. while facilitating the flow of licit goods being shipped between the two countries.