23 June 2000

Customs agreement paves way for electronic bill of lading between US, Mexico

The following article is excerpted from "The Journal of Commerce" edition of 23 June 2000.

The long-promised uniform electronic bill of lading between the United States and Mexico is one step closer following the signing of an agreement this week.

The Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement provides for exchange of information on a case-by-case basis, as well as automated information exchange on merchandise movements and means of transportation; import-export companies, and individuals involved in international trade operations.

"This paves the way to the intensification of the program with U.S. Customs to have a uniform electronic bill of lading, which we hope to have in place in a border crossing by the end of the year," said Mexican Customs Director Alvaro Quintana Elorduy.

The agreement supersedes a 1976 agreement and is largely targeted at eliminating customs fraud.

Quintana said that sharing information will make it easier to detect false statements of product origin, fraudulent tariff classifications and undervaluing of shipments....