Release Date: Mar 12, 2003Contact: 888-249-NEWS


Chamber Welcomes Launch of U.S.-Mexico Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce welcomed today's announcement by Representatives David Dreier (R-CA) and Charlie Stenholm (D-TX) that 20 members of Congress are launching a U.S.-Mexico Congressional Caucus.

"The U.S. and Mexico share a 2,000-mile border, generate nearly $250 billion in two-way trade, and enjoy a wide and growing range of business and cultural exchanges," said Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. "I congratulate the Congress on this new venture, which will focus attention on one of our most important bilateral relationships."

Mexico is the second-largest trading partner of the United States, with two-way commerce tripling since the North American Free Trade Agreement came into force in 1994. By one calculation, more than two-thirds of all Mexico's imports come from the United States, and that trade supports about two million jobs in the U.S.

The U.S.-Mexico Congressional Caucus is a bipartisan group of House Members dedicated to improving relations between the United States and Mexico. The Caucus will promote dialogue on bilateral ties through intergovernmental meetings, educational Congressional delegation visits, and roundtable discussions with the private sector.

"To work with this new Caucus, we are creating a business advisory group from among our member companies to provide information on policies affecting trade and investment, border management, and a wide range of business issues," said Donohue. "We'll also be working closely with our partners at the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, which represents over 80 percent of all U.S. investment in Mexico."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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