Mission, Goals & Objectives

Our Mission
To facilitate efficient secure cross-border movement of goods, services and people by addressing issues that affect international trade in order to maintain regional competitiveness.

Goals
Since 1985, the El Paso Foreign Trade Association has focused on enhancing and advancing bilateral trade.  The association’s membership includes maquiladora executives, and service industry leaders from both sides of the U.S. Mexico border.  The experience and expertise of the organization’s membership, coupled with a commitment to regional development, distinguishes the Foreign Trade Association as an organization that gets things done.

In 2006 the Foreign Trade Association branded it’s cross border efforts to the development of a FASTPORT, which symbolizes a commitment to fast and secure international mobility within the Paso del Norte Region. The concept entails the promotion of pre-clearance programs such as the Dedicated Commuter Lane (DCL-Linea Express) as well as FAST Lanes for commercial cargo, and advocacy for additional international bridges to enhance logistical choices.

The Foreign Trade Association has emerged as one of the definitive sources for information concerning operating in Mexico.  Their knowledge covers maquiladoras, industrial competitiveness, cross-border transportation, customs regulations, and ports of entry in the Paso del Norte region.  The association networks with the Border Trade Alliance with other organizations in the communities along the 2,000-miles U.S.-Mexico border to provide a voice in the negotiations that affect them as well as bilateral trade.

Strategic Objectives

• Identify, research, develop and deliver key messages concerning issues directly affecting U.S.-Mexico commerce.
• Educate the public, community leader, local, state and federal legislators, and the business sector about the benefits of bilateral trade.
• Alert government officials of priority issues affecting border trade and commerce and the emerging global economy.
• Develop action-oriented networks to promote cross-border partnerships.

The Foreign Trade Association is a Texas non-profit association.