The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) along with the US Chamber of Commerce and other parties are calling for the US government to improve inter-agency cooperation and staffing in order to reduce bottlenecks of commercial shipments at the US-Mexico border.The two key recommendations, announced in a new report, focus on data sharing and increasing Customs & Border Protection staffing as a means to minimizing crossing times.
The in-depth report, titled ‘Steps to a 21st Century US-Mexico Border’, aims to create a concise outline on the importance of the US-Mexico relationship that could be easily provided to policy leaders and the general public.
“Customs and Border Protection needs all the tools at their disposal, including not just technology but also adequate levels of personnel to facilitate the legal crossing of goods and people,” said Jaime Chamberlain, FPAA chairman and president of J-C Distributing in Nogales, Arizona.
Lance Jungmeyer, president of FPAA, said the recipe for success is to ensure that Ports of Entry are effectively staffed to the needs desired to efficiently move goods and people across the border. “The US has the responsibility to live up to its obligations to provide free and fair trade to NAFTA partners. When Customs is understaffed, that is an effective barrier to trade,” he explained.
Source: Fruitnet
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