Importance

As one of the U.S. main trading partners and a country that shares U.S. southern border of over 3000 kilometers, Mexico is one of the most important countries to U.S. agriculture.  Both countries share common ecosystems with similar problems, such as drought during the last several years along the border.  Mexico, as a country, has great biodiversity with wide climatic variation, from desert to tropical, and a center of origin for several major crops.  Moreover, ten percent of the U.S. population is Mexican or Mexican descent, with specific, or sometimes different, demands in consumer goods and nutritional needs.  Trade in agriculture between the two countries is approximately $10.15 billon/year and growing. Additional tariff barriers fell in 2003 and will be phased out by 2008.

Cooperation with Mexico

The U.S. Government cooperates with Mexico through a Binational Commission, which has regular annual meetings through various committees that address specific areas.  ARS cooperates in the Science and Technology Committee, although coordinates this interaction through the Foreign Agricultural Service to keep abreast of priorities in the Agricultural Committee.  Trade is a priority in the Agricultural Committee, although agro-environmental issues have become a second important priority over the past year.  This was consolidated in 2003 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USDA and SEMARNAT, the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.  ARS has been cooperating with Mexico for many years in many areas that impact the environment and conservation of natural resources, as well as areas that impact trade and production issues.  On October 2, 2002, ARS executed three Memoranda of Understanding with the National Institute of Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry Research (INIFAP), the Post Graduates College (ColPos), and the Center for Investigation in Food and Development (CIAD).  A MOU with the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT) was signed in November 12^th 2003, in Washington DC. 

Current Cooperation Topics with Mexico