Both the trade community and the Customs have worked to develop the prototype's treatment of account structure, data elements, process flow and other related areas. With this came the implementation of the account management feature, with a Customs representative assigned to most of the large importers. The trade community also has participated over the last year in a series of discussions in relation to the reconciliation feature of the Mod Act. We also appreciate this committee's longstanding support for Customs automation and hope it will continue. No matter how successful the effort to automate Customs procedures proves to be, goods still must physically move across the border.
Nothing hinders cross-border trade as directly as a long line of trucks waiting to cross the border.
Our member companies support Customs' increased enforcement activities and are willing to provide the necessary support and cooperation to ensure effective enforcement while expediting cargo movement across the border. However, the current practices and limited resources of both the U.S. and Mexico Customs agencies serves to hinder traffic flow. The worst example of this is the impact of the currently limited crossing hours at the southern border. While crossing points on the border with Canada operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, three key Mexican crossing bridges operate only part-time. It is our understanding that the Mexican government may need to be persuaded that 24-hour border operations are critical.