4 American Journal of Transportation American Journal of Transportation ajot.com TITLE SPONSOR The Houston International Maritime Conference is Back! Join Us November 2-5, 2026 Hilton Americas-Houston, Texas Buy Your Tickets Now! Early Bird Pricing Ends August 31st Visit our website: www.porthouston.com/himc REGISTER single points of failure,” adds Mark Kunar, CEO, DHL Supply Chain North America. Supporting North American Trade The US decision not to renew has prompted many to express support for USMCA. “The USMCA is one of the world’s most import- ant trade agreements,” asserts Professor Steven Altman of New York University Stern School of Business. “It enables efficient and reliable supply chains to operate across three of the world’s largest and most complementary economies.” According to CSIS, Canada and Mexico have remained the United States’ leading trading partners since the USMCA took effect in 2020. Outcomes attributed to the agreement include a 37% increase in intra-regional trade in goods and services, an 18% increase in jobs supported by USMCA-related trade, and a 16% increase in foreign direct investment across North America. Agriculture serves as a specific example of USMCA support for US industry. A July 1 letter to the USTR from members of the House Agriculture Committee states, “USMCA provides markets and opportunities for US agriculture, contributing to increased exports, stability and jobs. Since USMCA was enacted in 2020, Mexico and Canada have col- lectively scaled up imports of US agricultural goods by $20 billion, totaling $60 billion in 2024. Eco- nomic models show that in 2024 alone, agricultural and seafood exports to Canada and Mexico gener- ated $149 billion in total economic contribution to the US economy, supporting nearly half a million American jobs and generating $36 billion in wages.” Port Laredo, the leading land gateway for US-Mexico trade, presents another example of the positive impact of USMCA. “USMCA has been instrumental in strengthening North American supply chains and supporting the continued growth Port Laredo awarded new $25 million BUILD grant to support US-Mexico trade By Pete, Goldin, AJOT (AWARDED – continued on page 6) As the US continues to negotiate the future of USMCA, Port Laredo in Texas – the nation’s leading inland port and the busiest land gateway for US-Mexico trade – was awarded a $25 million federal BUILD Grant for the World Trade Bridge expansion project. Felipe “Flip” Romero, Senior Marketing Communications Executive for the City of Laredo, says this new funding reflects contin- ued federal investment in infrastructure to support cross-border trade and the long-term growth of North American commerce. Building Bridges About the BUILD Grant, Rep. Henry Cuellar from Texas says, “This investment will help add two new lanes to the existing bridge and construct a new eight-lane northbound commercial bridge, increas- ing capacity, reducing congestion, and keeping goods moving more efficiently through our nation’s busiest commercial port of entry.” The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program provides US Department of Transportation (USDOT) fund- ing for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. This grant is dedicated to eligible construction activities asso- ciated with the World Trade Bridge expansion and will be matched with local funding in accordance with the grant requirements. “The BUILD Grant represents a significant federal investment in the future of North Ameri- can trade,” explains Elsa Hinojosa, Bridge Systems Director for the City of Laredo. “These funds will help advance critical infrastructure improvements that expand commercial capacity, strengthen supply chain resilience, and improve the efficient move- ment of goods across the US-Mexico border. This partnership between the federal government and the City of Laredo reinforces the strategic importance of Port Laredo to the nation’s economy.” The World Trade Bridge expansion includes widening the existing bridge by adding two south- bound lanes and constructing a new span bridge – approximately 1,479 feet long – across the Rio Grande River on the border between US and Mexico. The new bridge would be located on new right-of- way to be acquired by the City of Laredo, providing eight northbound lanes and a safety walkway. On June 18, 2026, US International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) Commissioner Chad McIntosh joined Rep. Cuellar and Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor D. Treviño to sign the conceptual designs for the World Trade Bridge expansion. The IBWC reviews and approves international bridge designs and related works that affect the interna- tional boundary and shared rivers. According to USIBWC, the signed conceptual plans represent formal binational approval under the boundary and water treaties that govern international crossings between the US and Mexico. Another significant milestone was recently achieved with approval of the project’s Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on July 6, 2026, com- pleting an important step in the federal environmen- tal review process under the National Environmental (FUTURE – continued on page 16) (FUTURE – continued from page 3)
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