U.S. Ambassadors to Mexico and Canada, together with DHS Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector, Tour Largest Inland Commercial Port along the United States-Mexico Border

Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, February 14, 2012. — U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Anthony Wayne, accompanied U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson, and DHS Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector, Douglas A. Smith, on a tour of the major crossing points between Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.  The World Trade Bridge, which crosses the Rio Grande between Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, is the largest inland commercial port along the entire 2,000 mile border between the United States and Mexico. The Ambassadors and the Assistant Secretary also visited the non-commercial Juarez–Lincoln International Bridge, the Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge, and the IH 35 Border Patrol Checkpoint.

During their meeting at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge they were accompanied by the Mexican Consul General in Laredo, Texas, Miguel Angel Isidro; the Administrator of the Customs port of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Ms. Dina Alicia Madrid Rosas; the Administrator of the Customs port of Colombia, Nuevo Leon, Mr. Hector Hugo Garza Jalil; Deputy Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Thomas Winkowski; US Customs and Border Protection Field Operations Director Gene Garza; Laredo Port Director Sidney Aki; and Border Patrol Laredo Sector Chief Robert Harris.  

While on the tour of the World Trade Bridge, the Ambassadors and the Assistant Secretary got an up-close look at how customs authorities process the more than 5,000 trucks that cross the bridge daily, while they were able to observe advanced technology in action at the rail bridge and the IH 35 Checkpoint.

”I am happy to be back at the World Trade Bridge, this time on the U.S. side of the bridge with my colleague David Jacobson, our U.S. Ambassador to our other NAFTA partner, Canada,” said Ambassador Wayne.  “It was truly amazing to see firsthand the outstanding work that U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol do, in collaboration with their Mexican colleagues, to facilitate and process legitimate trade.  They are taking extraordinary measures to make all three of our countries safer by stopping the flow of illegal goods. The more than 5,000 daily commercial crossings on

this bridge alone, in addition to the heavy rail traffic flow, is a tremendous testament to the depth and importance of the trading relationship that exists between the United States and Mexico, our neighbor and third largest trading partner.”

“I want to thank Ambassador Wayne and the DHS and CBP leaders for being such gracious hosts. Standing on this bridge today and seeing the effect this expansion has had on the flow of vehicles crossing between the U.S. and Mexico really epitomizes the fact that more efficiency at the border does not have to mean less security or vice versa. The two are not at odds with each other,” said U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson. “Helping to facilitate more efficient, legitimate trade between our NAFTA partners will only serve to strengthen all of our economies in a time when it is needed most. I look forward to continuing to work together on initiatives such as this one.”

The two diplomats and the Assistant Secretary were able to see the World Trade Bridge operating at its new expanded capacity, having completed a renovation in 2011 that increased the total number of inspection lanes to 15.  The renovation is an example of the increased U.S. efforts to create a 21^st Century Border that facilitates and secures efficient flows of goods and people, and reduces the cost of doing business between our two countries.