TRI-NATIONAL ACCORD U.S./MEXICO WORKING GROUP

2001-2002 WORK PLAN

September 19, 2001

Note: This is a working document, subject to revision as work is completed and new issues arise.

ISSUE	LEAD STATES	ACTIONS	COMMENTS
Improving border operations	Sonora, Arizona	Sonora will work with Arizona on the details of the proposal first presented to the Border Governors for an independent board on agricultural trade solutions	Refined proposal will be forwarded for consideration by the federal Secretaries
Animal health issues that effect trade	Arizona, California, Texas	Coordinate prevention and efficient response to livestock diseases through scientific exchange, collaboration on disease outbreak simulations, and harmonization of animal health regulations	Under the Border States Veterinarians Work Group of the Border Governors Conference, workshops for exchange of information and collaboration with federal agencies are going forward
Agricultural biotechnology	Jalisco, Nebraska, Vermont	After NASDA has completed its discussion on biotech policy, NASDA will communicate its view on the GMO-labelling issue to AMSDA	Possible further discussion by an AMSDA-NASDA working group, depending on outcome of NASDA discussions
Organic foods	California, Texas, N. Dakota, Morelos, Michoacan, Jalisco	Form a working group on the issue of recognition of certification agencies among the states indicated	Possible working-level meeting on this issue in conjuction with other planned meeting on organics
Trade in beef and beef products	Durango, Arizona, Nebraska, Chihuahua, Texas	Include in communication on important issues with Federal authorities	Mexico has concerns about forms and patterns of trade; the U.S. would like to see uniform Mexican quality standards
Certification systems	Sonora	Include in communication on important issues with Federal authorities	Mexico has raised the importance of moving towards mutual acceptance of national certification and inspection systems throughout N. America
Subsidies	Coahuila, Jalisco	Mexico proposed the formation of a working group on this issue; the U.S. delegation noted the serious Mexican concern	The Mexican delegation raised is concern over the imbalance of subsidies between the two countries, which they believe create unequal competitive advantages
Potato trade	Idaho, Maine, Sinaloa	Both organizations will send technical representatives to the NAPPO meeting in October to encourage determinations to be based on science rather than politics	Possible further technical working group among the concerned states and provinces, if results from the NAPPO discussion are not completely satisfactory