COA Statement on Importance of U.S.-Mexico Border for the U.S. Economy
COA Statement on Importance of U.S.-Mexico Border for the U.S. Economy
Effective U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada are essential to a healthy U.S. economy. Closing or restricting them would have grave economic consequences for the United States.
Council of the Americas (COA) strongly supports the U.S. administration’s initiatives to improve bilateral relations with Mexico through the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the announcement of a U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. We believe closing or significantly restricting the U.S.-Mexico border would undermine these efforts, ultimately hurting the interests of those American businesses and workers these recent actions are designed to promote.
The United States and Mexico trade $1.7 billion daily, with 83 percent of traded goods transported across the border. In 2018, Mexico was the United States’ third-largest trading partner and was one of two top trading partners for 27 U.S. states. Trade across the southern border is the lifeblood of integrated supply chains supporting all sectors of the U.S. economy and all U.S. states including those at the heart of U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
Effective U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada are essential to a healthy U.S. economy. Closing or restricting them would have grave economic consequences for the United States and would be both inconsistent with U.S. obligations under the pending USMCA and contrary to U.S. policy interests.
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