Financial Impact of Food Safety Issues of the U.S-Mexico Border

Financial Impact of Food Safety Issues of the U.S-Mexico Border

Summary

The US- Mexico bilateral trade through the border is very important because of the proximity between the two countries and the high volume of goods that are moved between them. US and Mexico share a border of about 2,000 miles and they are also connected via the Gulf of Mexico. Based on the 114th congress, the US showed its intention to maintain interest with Mexico following the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and the potential effects to the trade relations between the two countries. NAFTA and WTO are also well maintained to facilitate trade activities between the two countries and ensure there is food security.

The US congress is also concerned with regards to the policies taken by Mexico’s president Enrique Peña Nieto. The president has been committed towards trade between the two countries. The paper also addresses the concern with the election of Donald Trump as the US president and how this might affect the US-Mexico border trade and food policy security.

Introduction

        There has been an increase in the Mexican food in the United States food markets. The increase has primarily been on fruits and the vegetables. The rise in demand for the Mexican produced food in the United States markets has mainly been experienced due to the increasing consumption levels in the United States markets for both fruits and vegetables exceeding available supply. Domestic food and fruit production in the United States is not sufficient for meeting demand. Due to the increasing food safety concerns, the United States has combined efforts with Mexican government to implement food safety regulations. Food safety regulations has conventionally addressed the issue of regarding the prevention of unintentional food contamination which may cause some harm. It will encompass many stakeholders ranging from the disgruntled employees to global terrorists. Since 2005, about 6.2 billion pounds were used for the purchase of fruits and vegetables by the United States government from Mexico. There was a slight increase in the pounds used by the U.S government for the acquisition of fruits and vegetables from Mexico in 2006 to 6.49 billion pounds. Moreover, 2007 recorded a higher value for the purchases of fruits and vegetables by the United States government from Mexico reaching 7.4 billion pounds.

        The increasing volume of import for the fresh produce by the United States government from Mexico led to the development of food security and food safety threats across the supply line. The policies introduced have addressed the issue of economic adulteration between the two states. Food security regulations have significantly reduced the possibility or effects of universal food contamination which may result to severe harm on consumers’ health. The article addressed the utilization of intelligent assessment tools to alleviate both forms of threats as well as economic adulteration. The article has also evaluated the financial implications that food safety issues have had on the Mexico and United States border.