Press Releases 07
Bilateral Strategic Plan on Customs Will Enhance Security
and Facilitate Trade
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, August 13, 2007- “Today the United States and
Mexican governments signed a Bilateral Strategic Plan to expand
our longstanding relationship and cooperation on customs issues.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Ralph
Basham, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) Assistant Secretary Julie Myers and Mexico Customs Administrator
General Juan Jose Bravo, signed this Plan to further strengthen
and expand our existing institutional cooperation mechanisms
and establish new collaboration programs designed to fight
contraband trafficking, smuggling of prohibited goods, fraud,
and related crimes.
“While facilitating trade and commerce, the strategic framework
of this cooperative plan will help to prevent and deter terrorism
by aligning our mutual security mechanisms for North America
bound shipments and travelers. The customs-trade partnerships
and the enhanced border management resulting from this Bilateral
Strategic Plan will improve the lives of citizens on both
sides of the border.
“Attached is more information on the plan signed today.”
ICE and CBP partner with Mexico to
develop a strategic plan
to combat money laundering, customs violations and border
crimes
New task forces will focus on human, financial, technical
and material resources
to promote commerce and border security
MEXICO CITY August 13, 2007 — U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Ralph Basham
and Mexico Customs Administrator General Juan Jose Bravo today
signed a Bilateral Strategic Plan (BSP) recognizing the longstanding
relationship and cooperation on customs and border security
issues between their agencies.
The agreement establishes principles the United States and
Mexico will follow in the exploration and deployment of projects
to enhance the flow of commerce and the security of the border.
"This agreement officially recognizes the critical nature
of strategic cooperation and collaboration between the United
States and Mexico," said Department of Homeland Security
Assistant Secretary Julie Myers. "The working groups
established under this plan will help ensure that critical
information is shared in a more timely manner and that issues
of enforcement, security and trade are managed more efficiently,
to the ultimate benefit and safety of both nations."
“This bilateral plan will strengthen cooperation in matters
related to law enforcement by expanding existing institutional
cooperation mechanisms and establishing new collaboration
programs designed to fight contraband trafficking, smuggling
of prohibited goods, fraud, and related crimes,” said Commissioner
Basham. “CBP, ICE and Mexican Customs will expand existing
cooperation in matters related to law enforcement, integrity,
trade facilitation, border management, customs-trade partnerships,
security and business resumption.”
The BSP stems from a Declaration of Principles (DOP) that
was signed on June 8, 2007, by U.S. Department of Homeland
Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Mexican Ministry of
Finance and Public Credit Secretary Agustin Carstens. The
DOP established joint goals for customs cooperation and called
for the development of a BSP. Through the BSP, CBP, ICE and
Mexican Customs will implement working groups to address joint
goals and long-term projects.
BSP will enhance security by providing the strategic framework
that will help prevent and deter terrorism and align security
mechanisms, procedures and programs for North America-bound
conveyances, shipments and travelers.
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