Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
Dated November 4, 2024, a sharply worded letter to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) brought together influential business leaders from both the United States and Mexico to challenge a controversial federal recommendation affecting cross-border trade. The letter was signed by Glenn Hamer, former President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business; John Esparza, President and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association; Alejandro Malagón, President of the Confederación de Cámaras Industriales de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos; and Miguel Ángel Martínez, President of the Cámara Nacional de Autotransporte de Carga. Representing industries that depend on the efficient movement of goods across the border, these leaders voiced alarm over the proposed removal of commercial traffic from the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA), a critical artery connecting El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
Their message highlighted not only the economic stakes of the decision but also concerns about the process behind it, arguing that the GSA advanced its recommendation before completing necessary data analysis or fully engaging affected stakeholders. By raising these issues while federal officials were still gathering information, the letter framed the proposal as premature and potentially damaging to one of North America’s most vital trade corridors.
Nearly a year and a half later, the Texas Association of Business (TAB), representing the Texas State Chamber, renewed its opposition in a March 25, 2026, letter addressed to John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Signed by Gabriela Perdichizzi, TAB’s Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, the letter reiterated earlier criticisms of the recommendation—initially advanced during the Joe Biden administration—describing it as economically harmful and lacking sufficient analysis. TAB aligned with the El Paso Chamber’s request for additional time to complete an independent economic impact study, arguing that moving forward without this data could undermine a key hub of cross-border commerce.
The follow-up letter emphasized the broader economic implications for Texas, underscoring El Paso’s role as a critical trade gateway and one of the state’s top commercial ports of entry. TAB warned that removing commercial traffic from the Bridge of the Americas could disrupt regional supply chains, increase congestion at other ports of entry, and weaken Texas’s competitive edge in international trade. While acknowledging the importance of modernization and environmental review, the organization stressed that the absence of a comprehensive economic analysis leaves policymakers without a full understanding of the consequences.
Just days earlier, on March 16, 2026, the El Paso Chamber formally appealed to Senators Cornyn and Cruz, urging federal intervention to delay any final decision on removing commercial traffic from the bridge. In a letter signed by President and CEO Ricardo Mora, the Chamber underscored the bridge’s unique role as the region’s only toll-free crossing and a vital conduit for empty cargo containers essential to efficient cross-border supply chains. Citing strong trade data—including significant growth in commercial crossings and billions in goods processed annually—the Chamber described BOTA as both a regional asset and a cornerstone of Texas’s trade infrastructure.
The Chamber also highlighted the potential economic risks of reducing commercial capacity at the port of entry, particularly for a region that depends heavily on cross-border commerce for growth and job creation. It warned that such changes could divert trade to competing corridors, undermining El Paso’s competitiveness and diminishing returns on major public infrastructure investments, including the I-10 Connect Project. While supporting modernization efforts, the Chamber emphasized that the lack of a comprehensive economic impact analysis represents a critical gap in the decision-making process, reinforcing calls for a pause and a more data-driven approach to protect the region’s long-term economic stability.
Follow the link below to read the TAB Letter:
See the Texas Association of Business letter below:
See the El Paso Chamber Letter below:
