b'6American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(BENEFITScontinued fromcloseto3%from2022toNorth American cold chain heating uppage 4) 2023withatotalof8,000 s ignifiCanCe ofusmCa events occurring. PreventionOne of the biggest beneficiaries of the USMCA is the perishables business and ofcontrabandbeingmixedimprovements in cold storage and transport pave the way for greater efficiencies. For some, the fact that anwith cargo is also a concern.agreement, the USMCA, wasFrom a national securityBy Andrew Meadows, AJOTratified by all three countriesperspective as well as a con-isavictoryinitself.Davecern for our customers supplyFrom a trade perspective, theres no doubtments have enhanced our ability to serve the Akers,PresidentofC.R.chains,andourpeopleandthe borders dividing North Americas three larg- growing bilateral trade in perishable products, EnglandMexicosaid,Theoperational assets in Mexico,est countries have all but disappeared. said Carlos Mendoza, a senior marketing coor-passage of USMCA ensuredthisisthemostimportantThe USMCA ratified four years ago com- dinator with The ILS Company, a Tucson, AZ-the continuity and growth ofchallenge, said Akers. pletedwhatNAFTAstarted;transformingbased 3PL.The USMCA has created a more tradebetweentheU.S.andThe ATA takes a broaderCanada, the United States and Mexico into astreamlined,efficienttradeenvironment.The Mexico.Thenegotiationsviewoftheimpactofcargoboundaryless economic superpower.U.S. cold chain market is valued at nearly $39 were protracted and there wasthreat,statingthatitisnotThe development has led to the continuedbillion, while Mexicos is approximately $4.78 concern at the time for con- only a cross-border issue. Hol- expansion of a high-value cold chain along keybillion. Thisdisparityhighlightsthepotential tinued delays or even poten- mecki said, We are seeing aU.S.-Mexico trade lanes and experts agree, theforexpansioninMexico,particularlyinkey tialdistancingbymembersurge in cargo thefts across allgrowth is not going to slow down.stateslikeNuevoLen,Sinaloa,Guanajuato, companies from the treaty. parts of the trucking industry,Wevewitnessedsignificantadvance- Jalisco, and Mexico City.C. R. England is the larg- which is why fighting it is amentsinourcoldstorageandtransportationThe Mexico cold chain industry is estimated estproviderofrefrigerated,priority for the ATA. capabilities along the border. These improve- (HEATINGcontinued on page 7)cross-bordertruckinginto andoutofMexico.SinceB enefiTs ToB usinesses2020, year-over-year growthandP eoPleinthecompanysMexico- Regardlessofanychal-cross-borderbusinesshaslenges associated with cross-beencloseto10%.Initsborder trade, there are many over-the-road(OTR)divi- (BENEFITScontinued on sion,cross-borderMexicopage 9)activity accounts for roughly half of total network revenue.Thecompanyexpressed concernaboutthepolitical risk to USMCA as presiden-tialelectionsoccurinboth theU.S.andMexicothis year. Aker said, We will be watching the US elections in Novemberwithinterestand hopethatthenewlyelected officials support North Amer-ican trade.f romP rinCiPleT oP raCTiCeWhileallpartiesagree that increased trade between the three countries is positive, therealitiesassociatedwith implementation include some challenges. Delays at border crossings are one factor.Holmeckinoted,The ATAspendsagreatdeal oftimeworkingwiththe governmentsoftheUnited States,Canada,andMexico toensuresmoothandeffi-cient inspections and customs clearance for trucks crossing through land ports of entry. To thatend,the ATAcontinues tosupporttheadoptionand implementation of new tech-nologiesthatwillenhance security, without compromis-ing the economic benefits of amoreexpeditiousflowof goods and people.Capacity is another con-cernforsomeroutes.Habe said, There is a greater need fordriversandequipment tomovealargenumberof northboundshipmentsinto theU.S.andCanada.This imbalancecausesdelaysin theU.S.asshippersviefor limited space.Securityisanothercon-cern. Akerssaid,Asisthe caseforC.R.England,all premiermembersinthe Mexicocross-bordersupply chain place cargo security at top priority.ReliancePartners,a cross-borderinsuranceand consulting company, reported thatcargotheftandhigh jackings in Mexico increased'