Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker addressed the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the vital importance of the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship and discussing efforts to strengthen our bilateral partnership through the High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED).

 

The HLED was launched, in part, to alter the common perception that the U.S.-Mexico relationship is only about security and a porous border. Our nations’ economic ties are broad and deep, and they are essential to realizing the vision of North America as the most competitive region in the world.

 

Speaking with business leaders from both the United States and Mexico, Secretary Pritzker outlined the progress made by the HLED since its inception in September 2013, including steps to improve our border infrastructure, a new agreement to make air travel easier and more efficient between our two nations, and programs to deepen our people-to-people ties.

 

Among the HLED’s many achievements, the Secretary pointed to the clear impact of U.S.-Mexico cooperation to construct new roads and facilities that have reduced wait times at the San Diego-Tijuana port of entry – the busiest land crossing in the world; to expand the capacity of the Nogales-Mariposa crossing in Arizona; and to complete the West Rail bypass project, which, with its expected completion this summer, will be the first new rail crossing between America and Mexico in over a century.

 

Secretary Pritzker also laid out the road ahead for the HLED. Both governments have agreed to extend our coordination and collaboration, with specific focus on areas like enhancing our energy regulatory cooperation, building modern borders, and promoting entrepreneurship and economic development.

 

With government partners in both the United States and Mexico, with the private sector leaders at the Chamber of Commerce today, Secretary Pritzker remains committed to fulfill the basic goal of the HLED: to make it easier for our companies to do more business together.