(Mar. 29, 2018) Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Luís Videgaray, and US Secretary of Homeland Security, Kerstjen Nielsen, witnessed the signing of three instruments of bilateral cooperation on March 26, 2018. The agreements aim to improve the economy on both sides of the border, especially benefiting workers and companies. (Firman México y EUA Instrumentos de Cooperación en Beneficio de la Economía en Ambos Lados de la Frontera, SECRETARÍA DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES (Mar. 26, 2018).)
First, the Mexican Secretariat of Finance, through its Tax Administration Service (Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SAT), and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to combat commercial and customs fraud, as well as smuggling and other illicit activities in foreign trade operations. The MOU was signed after months of negotiation. (Id.)
Secondly, the Mexican SAT and US CBP signed an MOU in order to integrate the current Cargo Pre-Inspection Program with the Unified Cargo Processing Program into a single program called the Joint Cargo Inspection Program. This will facilitate the process of importing and exporting merchandise, as well as the inspection of shipments and means of transport on both sides of the border. The Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Relations explained that this instrument will increase efficiency by avoiding duplication of processes, specifically by allowing cargo to enter the United States from Mexico and vice versa with a single review. (Id.)
Lastly, the National Service of Health, Safety and Agricultural Quality (an agency under the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food) and the US CBP signed a letter of intent that establishes areas of collaboration on issues of interest related to cross-border trade in agricultural products. (Id.)