WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Henry Cuellar and Diputado Mario Martín Delgado Carrillo, co-chairs of the US-Mexico Interparliamentary Group, recently hosted a virtual meeting to discuss USMCA and ways to improve US-Mexico relations.
The U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group has met regularly since 1961 to bring together legislators from both countries to discuss priority issues and identify ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
“After three years of intense negotiations, signing by each country’s trade ambassadors, and passage of the agreement in U.S., Canadian, and Mexican legislative bodies, the $1.5 billion tri-lateral trade agreement is now in force,” said Congressman Cuellar of Laredo, Texas.
“The North American Free Trade Agreement gave rise to the greatest display of economic growth in the history of Texas, United States, Mexico, and Canada. Now that the USMCA is in force, we will brighten that future and continue to make North America the economic, cultural, and societal envy of the world. As the Chairman of the U.S.-Mexico IPG, I will continue to work with my Mexican counterparts to strengthen our bilateral relationship and enhance the economic growth of our two nations.”
Cuellar said he wanted to thank the Majority Leader of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies, Mario Delgado for “his dedication to finalizing this trade agreement and strengthening our trade partnership so we bring further economic prosperity to both countries.”
Cuellar pointed out that the trade relationship between the United States and Mexico is becoming increasingly more important. He said 2019 was a record year for U.S.-Mexico trade as the two countries exchanged nearly $700 billion in goods and services. Citing information from the U.S. Chamber, Cuellar said nearly $1.7 billion in goods flow across the border every day. In addition, 6.3 million trucks and just under 500,000 loaded rail containers crossed.
Building on this success, as trade continues to rebound between the United States and Mexico, Cuellar said he is working to improve coordination on essential business designations to ensure domestic economies have access to each other's critical cross-border supply chains. These designations will be coordinated and reciprocated by both governments given the reliance domestic economies have on international exchanges, he said.
Cuellar described USMCA as “a revolutionary modernization of the 25-year-old NAFTA into a 21st century, high-standard agreement.” He said trade agreement will support mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America.
“There are number of achievements that make this agreement historic, including provisions on the environment, intellectual property, and labor,” Cuellar said.
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