Thread: TX-Mexico Customs may come to U.S.

Mexico Customs may come to U.S.

By ZACH LINDSEY
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 1:11 AM CDT

Laredo could become the first city in the country to have a Mexican customs officer stationed at its international airport.

Such a move could streamline the customs process for exports into Mexico and allow the airport to send goods to Mexican airports that don't have a customs station, according to city officials.

"Why Laredo?" asked City Manager Carlos Villarreal.

"Because that's the type of business that we're in."

Geographically, being located down the Interstate 35 pipeline means Laredo is a convenient stopping place for cargo from the United States.

Currently, cargo flights originating in the U.S. have to land at an international airport in Mexico to pass through Mexican customs.

Stationing an agent from Mexican customs in Laredo would allow goods to travel from the United States to any airport in Mexico, whether it is international or national.

Villarreal and Airport Director Jose Flores met with Mexican customs and congressional officials last week to discuss the possibility.

The Mexican government was "responsive and receptive," according to Flores.

However, officials on the Mexican side need to determine if expansion or modification of laws regarding trade are necessary before moving to allow a customs representative to function in the United States.

"We have to work on both sides," Flores said.

"We might be looking at issues of reciprocity, where they (Mexican customs) will come to Laredo, and U.S. customs might go to wherever they want to designate U.S. customs in Mexico."

Eight airports in Canada and airports in four other countries have similar situations for pre-clearance for travelers coming into the United States, but there are no preclearance programs for travelers or cargo leaving the United States going to another country.

"If it works there, why can't it work here, as far as freight in Laredo?" Villarreal asked.

By traveling to Mexico, Laredo has taken the first step, but there might be a need down the line to address legislative authority.

"When we talk about the concept and the way that it could revamp the way we do business, at this point, it is certainly an interesting option," Villarreal said.

The city's proposal is that the Mexican customs office in Laredo be a section of the Nuevo Laredo customs department.

That would mean that all the brokers that are properly permitted with Nuevo Laredo's customs operations would be automatically permitted at the Laredo airport.

"It's basically a branch extension of Nuevo Laredo," Flores said.

With more than $150 million worth of infrastructure repairs and upgrades going into the Laredo International Airport, Villarreal said that the city has "an excellent opportunity ... to make this viable."

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of lmtonline.com.

gorilla wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:13 AM:

" quick every one run for cover, when flores says it is basically a branch of nuevo laredo , the point that needs to be made is i hear that any gargo that leaves nuevo laredo by 18 wheeler has to pay the mordidas de los zeta to get out of town. this is great to side step all the mafia in nuevo laredo. "


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dude wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:27 AM:

" GROW UP GORILLA AND LEARN HOW TO SPELL..... "


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eye of the beholder wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:32 AM:

" hey, dude can you please give me a spealing class "


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MORDIDAVILLE wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:50 AM:

" Laredo needs to change it's name to MORDIDAVILLE,TX "


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MARIACHI wrote on Jun 10, 2009 12:38 PM:

" Just what we needed. Now, their drugs shall pass without scrutiny/great job Laredo!! "


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Native wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:23 PM:

" Mexico and Canada are not comparable to each other. What works between the U.S. and Canada will not necessarily work between U.S. and Mexico. Carlos' idea stinks.. He and Martin Cuellar should not be negotiating with Mexico and thus, compromising our safety and well-being. "


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ABBY wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:48 PM:

" MEXICAN'S CUSTOMS SHOULD STAY IN MEXICO..THATS WHY WE HAVE OUR US CUSTOMS, I THINK IM MOVING OUT OF LAREDO BEFORE IT BECOMES LIKE NUEVO LAREDO "


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Justice wrote on Jun 10, 2009 2:52 PM:

" To ABBEY: Good-bye! So- Long! Vaya con dios! "


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This is... wrote on Jun 10, 2009 3:50 PM:

" the New Laredo. "

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