CEREMONIAL OPENING OF ANZALDUAS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MATAMOROS 000017 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/MEX, EEB/TRA TREASURY FOR IA NSC FOR RACHEL WALSH USDOC FOR 4320/ITA/MAC/WH/ONAFTA/GWORD STATE PASS TO USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELTN ETRD ECIN MX SUBJECT: CEREMONIAL OPENING OF ANZALDUAS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CELEBRATED BY U.S. AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS REF: 09 Matamoros 177 MATAMOROS 00000017 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Speakers: Mexican President Felipe Caldersn U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan Tamaulipas Governor Eugenio Hernandez ¶2. Mexican President Felipe Caldersn presided over the ceremonial opening of the Anzaldzas International Bridge on January 11, 2010, under a large tent in Reynosa just over the bridge from McAllen, Texas. The bridge, spanning the Rio Grande just southwest of McAllen and west of Reynosa, Mexico, began operations with a "soft opening" on December 15, 2009. ¶3. Background: Anzaldzas is the fifth international crossing connecting Hidalgo County, Texas, and the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is closest international bridge to Monterrey, Mexico, and Mexico City. The bridge is 3.2 miles long, half in the U.S., half in Mexico. The U.S. port of entry (POE) is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified land POE on the southern border. The bridge operates seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and accommodates passenger vehicles and buses only. The Presidential permit for Anzaldzas, issued in 1999, does not permit commercial traffic on the bridge. ¶4. Bilateral Relations and Trade: At the event President Calderon focused his comments on how the crossing would improve the region's competitiveness and assist economic recovery in ¶2010. He said infrastructure was key to Mexico's competitiveness and growth and Anzaldzas was an example of Mexico's links to the largest economy in the world. He emphasized that 2010 would be a year of economic recovery, thanks to projects like Anzaldzas and the soon-to-come crossing between Donna, Texas, and Rio Bravo, Mexico. Ambassador Kirk stressed the importance of U.S.-Mexico trade: "Cross-border trade totals more than $1 billion every day. Mexico is the number one trading partner for 22 American states." Ambassador Espinosa said modern infrastructure and connections to the U.S. are crucial to Mexico's competitiveness and called for the building of more bridges. She said Anzaldzas would support the area's competitiveness, promote better economic security for both nations, and help ensure economic recovery in the region. Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transport Juan Molinar said the Mexican transportation network in Reynosa will be saturated by 2014, and more binational crossings need to be built to ease traffic congestion. He also said new ports and improvements to existing ports in Mexico will solidify Mexico's position as a logistical platform for North America. ¶5. Commercial Traffic: Calderon said that he hoped that Anzaldzas would soon carry commercial cargo traffic which would further expand export capacity and commerce between both nations. McAllen, Mayor Richard Cortez strongly urged port officials on both sides to more fully utilize Anzaldzas. He asked officials to work to decrease waiting times and allow commercial traffic on Anzaldzas as soon as possible because commercial congestion is restraining economic development in the region. Tamaulipas Governor Hernandez also called for a commercial crossing at Anzaldzas saying it would significantly increase the competitive capabilities on both sides of the border. During the walk from the event Calderon asked Kirk about the commercial traffic issue and Kirk told him that it was "on our side". MATAMOROS 00000017 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. Comment: The event was successful and was heavily covered in the press. The issue of commercial traffic is commonly raised by local officials on both sides of the border. Authorization for commercial traffic is unlikely in the near term due to CBP and Pharr municipality opposition, and in addition would require significant new funding to build the infrastructure necessary. End Comment. BARKIN