Improving the Border Agency Cooperation
Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade
33
Tamaulipas was opened in August 2015, being the first international railway bridge between
the two nations in 100 years.
Telecommunication infrastructure: also under the Merida Initiative, a secure, cross-border
telecommunications system between ten border cities has been established. This system
provides the capability on both sides of the border to request and exchange information
regarding active criminal investigations.
Trusted trader programmes
In 2014, the US and Mexico signed a mutual recognition of trusted traders document. The
objective is to grant special privileges to those companies that are certified by the
corresponding authority in order to have their trucks at the front line at border crossings. The
two governments will continue to operate separate programmes, but if a company is admitted
to the US C-TPAT programme, it will obtain ‘bonus points’ to get into NEEC, the Mexican AEO
programme, and vice versa42.
Other relevant cross-border initiatives
US-Mexico cooperation is not solely focused on facilitating trade in goods. They also
collaborate in areas related to speed up the clearance process for passengers travelling
between the two countries. In 2013, Mexico implemented the Programa Viajero Confiable
(PVC), and US created the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI)
and the Global Entry Program. Those programs allow expedited clearance for pre-approved,
low-risk travellers upon arrival to the corresponding country. Also, infrastructure has been
improved for pedestrian, in August 2015, the ‘Puerta Este’ pedestrian crossing was opened to
decongests the busiest land port of entry in the Western Hemisphere and the San Diego-
Tijuana International Airport Cross Border Xpress opened in December 2015, is a pedestrian
bridge connecting San Diego with Tijuana Airport, giving passengers access to more
international connections.43
Furthermore, the US and Mexico also collaborate in improving security and reducing violence.
For example, they have developed the Cross Border Coordination Initiative (CBCI) that
coordinates law enforcement patrols between the United States Border Patrol (USBP) and the
Mexican Federal Police (OF) in South Texas/Coahuila, South Texas/Tamaulipas, and
Arizona/Sonora.44
In addition, the two countries have implemented what are termed Border Violence Prevention
Protocols (BVPP), which include patrolling on either side of the border in high-risk areas,
among other activities.45 Under the BVPP, the US and Mexico can improve situational
awareness through sharing information regarding investigations and their results. 46 These
actions improve their abilities to jointly identify trends and cooperatively target high-risk
42 (accessed 1 July 2016).
43 www.usembassy-mexico.gov/pdf/fronteriza-eng.pdf (accessed 1 July 2016)
44 U.S. – Mexico 21st Century Border Management, 2013
45 www.usembassy-mexico.gov/pdf/fronteriza-eng.pdf (accessed 1 July 2016)
46 www.usembassy-mexico.gov/pdf/fronteriza-eng.pdf (accessed 1 July 2016)