VICTORIA, Tamaulipas - The governors of Coahuila and Tamaulipas have penned a joint letter stating that alternate solutions must be found to stifling international trade and commerce.
Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca is governor of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís is governor of the State of Coahuila, Mexico.
The letter was sent to Teas Governor Greg Abbott late Tuesday, April 12. In the letter, the two Mexican governors criticize Abbott’s recent decision to inspect trucks crossing land ports of entry from Mexico to the U.S.
“The new inspection measures are creating havoc and economic pain on both sides of the border,” Riquelme Solís and García Cabeza de Vaca write. “Political points have never been a good recipe to address common challenges or threats.”
In the letter, the two governors ask Abbott to reconsider “these overzealous inspections.”
They write: “We are concerned about the high logistics costs, environmental damage, and supply-chain issues that are a bi-products of these inspections and ask that you consider providing an expeditious service at the ports as Texas has always done.”
If something is not done immediately, the two governors write, “the average consumer cost will skyrocket within days.”
The letter states: “People are having trouble putting food on their tables, and these policies will make it even harder. These acts only intensify the problems, especially if people lose their jobs while hurting families and businesses on both sides of the border. This policy will ultimately increase consumer costs in an already record 40-year inflated market – holding the border hostage is not the answer.”
Here is the letter in full:
12 April 2022
Hon. Greg Abbott Governor, State of Texas Austin, TX
Dear Governor Abbott,
We hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits.
The State of Texas has always been a great neighbor to the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and Coahuila. This unique border region is North America's busiest trade gateway. Mexico is the largest trading partner for the U.S. and Texas, with nearly 70 percent of trade between the U.S. and Mexico flowing through this Texas-Quad State border area. The Texas-Quad State border is crucial to the U.S. and Mexico's local, regional, state, and national economies. The interdependence between these five states cannot be denied.
Despite the Mexican Federal Government and Washington DC habitually not fully comprehending the importance of our border region, the 4 U.S. border states and the 6 Mexican states that comprise Mexico's northern border are the most dynamic, complex, and challenging land border regions in the world.
In the 21st century, border communities and economies are intertwined so that what affects one affects the others. We have a shared economy like no other place in the world. Mutually, we have thousands of constituents working on both sides of the border, families that live on both sides of the border, and businesses on both sides of the border.
The new inspection measures are creating havoc and economic pain on both sides of the border, and as this Quad-State region suffers, so is Texas and vise-versa. Unfortunately, political points have never been a good recipe to address common challenges or threats. However, taking advantage of collaborative opportunities to address issues is the best way to solve problems. What we have today is a no-win situation for anyone.
Over the past few years, COVID has inflicted significant damage to our mutual economies. We have seen tremendous disruptions in the supply chain that has affected all our lives, and these inspection policies enacted by Texas will only deepen the wounds, especially when we are just trying to take the bandages off.
We ask you to reconsider these overzealous inspections. We are concerned about the high logistics costs, environmental damage, and supply-chain issues that are a bi-products of these inspections and ask that you consider providing an expeditious service at the ports as Texas has always done. If something is not done immediately, the average consumer cost will skyrocket within days. People are having trouble putting food on their tables, and these policies will make it even harder.
These acts only intensify the problems, especially if people lose their jobs while hurting families and businesses on both sides of the border. This policy will ultimately increase consumer costs in an already record 40-year inflated market – holding the border hostage is not the answer.
Trade security between Mexico and the United States is National security for both countries, and we realize that there are serious issues that must be addressed, and we think it is important we all come to the table. Our administrations have worked extremely hard to develop excellent relationships at all levels on both sides of the border. We must find another way than blocking international commerce.
We reiterate our commitment to continue working in coordination with Texas in hopes of finding alternate solutions to stifling international trade and commerce, which hurts families' quality of life on both sides of the border.
Sincerely,
Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca
Governor, State of Tamaulipas, Mexico
Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís
Governor, State of Coahuila, Mexico
Producing quality journalism is not cheap. The coronavirus has resulted in falling revenues across the newsrooms of the United States. However, The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service is committed to producing quality news reporting on the issues that matter to border residents. The support of our members is vital in ensuring our mission gets fulfilled.
Can we count on your support? If so, click HERE. Thank you!
