The members of the delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of the Honorable Congress of the Union of Mexico, as well as the members of the delegation of the Congress of the United States of America at the 53rd Interparliamentary Conference, in accordance with the decisions reached on June 5th, 2017 in Mexico City, agreed to the following:

Joint Declaration

We jointly agree that the U.S. – Mexico bilateral relation our countries share is important, as well as the close historic, economic, and cultural bonds that have been forged as a result of our countries’ relations over the past 192 years. We congratulate one another for having celebrated this Fifty Third Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Conference. Also, we consider that continuing to have interparliamentary conferences affirms the understanding, respect, and cooperation, as well as the goodwill that both nations have to dialogue in search of mutual benefits.

1. Recognizing that economic, political, and social interdependence between both countries demands the creation of a whole, ample, and renewed agenda to set the grounds for sustainable development in the region, our delegations celebrate the willingness of both legislative bodies to continue working on the development of bilateral policies in accordance with the needs of each nation and in the spirit of mutual respect.

2. We, the representatives of both Congresses, reaffirm that respect for sovereignty, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, must be the pillars on which a bilateral relation is built, and on which we will cooperate.

Immigration and Human Security and Safety

3. The delegations agree that immigration has positive effects, such as increased competitiveness, income generation, economic growth, and increased cultural understanding. Both delegations agree that it is necessary to put in place measures that seek to complement the existing North American market.

4. Both delegations are convinced that immigration is a global phenomenon, and are in favor of finding constructive solutions and fostering regional strategies to promote development as a way to reduce the negative impacts of migratory flows.

5. Both delegations emphasize a commitment to generate joint mechanisms that allow managing—in an orderly manner so as to protect personal property and fully respecting human rights—the growing wave of migratory flows and displaced individuals, produced by multiple factors such as political instability, a growing economic inequality, and the scarcity of natural resources, among others.

6. The Mexican and United States delegations express their interest in having migrants’ human rights respected, particularly during the processes of detention and repatriation.

Mexico – United States Economic and Trade Relations

7. Taking into consideration the intense economic and trade relations binding our countries, the production chains, and the intraregional synergies that have been generated, both delegations agree to the importance of increasing the levels of cooperation to facilitate coordination of parties involved in trade, logistics, and transportation.

8. Considering a need to improve regional economic conditions, representatives from both countries reaffirm their willingness to move forward to harmonize the rules that strengthen bonds of economic cooperation, trade safety, and job creation in both countries.

9. Thus, both delegations express their desire so that possible changes made to NAFTA – including the agreement’s modernization – become examples of the strengthening of a trade zone, involving new strategic concepts such as all forms of energy, including clean energy, and e-commerce that will, at the same time, be beneficial for workers and promote environmental protection to reach sustainable development. Both parties also express their willingness that the process of updating NAFTA become an opportunity to fight unfair trade and practices that create economic distortions.

Cooperation on Matters of Security

10. Both delegations acknowledge the multidimensional elements that security issues pose, as well as their transnational nature that requires mutual understanding, exchange of information, institutional cooperation on health, poverty reduction, inequality, and corruption, to strengthen the existing cooperation on the issue, always respecting the rule of law.

11. Both delegations express their conviction that the homeland security of each country is tightly and mutually tied, and they are convinced that we must jointly approach issues such as fighting organized crime at its source—particularly drug trafficking and consumption, illegal firearms trade, and human trafficking —as well as fighting terrorism.

12. Taking into consideration common security challenges that pose a threat to the region’s stability, both delegations state a commitment to continue strengthening cooperation to fight those phenomena that harm society, and to generate legal frameworks that allow efficient cooperation, facilitate information exchange, promote peace, and protect individual life and property.

A Border for the 21st Century

14. Both delegations are convinced that our extensive common border is a priority in our bilateral agenda. Thus, we both reaffirm our commitment to strengthening mechanisms that allow us to strengthen this space that allows for inter-connectivity, competitiveness and mutual security.

15. Given the considerable flow of people and goods crossing the border on a daily basis, both delegations recommend continued cooperation to improve border infrastructure, including customs crossings, railroads, bridges, and highways/roads, as well the effectiveness, security, safety, and capacity to promote competitiveness and strengthen regional production chains.

16. Both countries’ delegations agree that the border, in addition to being an area for economic activities, is an indivisible ecosystem. Therefore, both sides commit to guaranteeing environmental rights and conservation of biodiversity along the protected natural zones in the area, based on legal provisions of each country and international juridical instruments.

17. Both delegations consider it appropriate to create a bilateral working group, appointed by them, to follow-up on agreements and provide work continuity during legislature changes. This group may meet in August 2017.

18. Both delegations agree to convene the next interparliamentary group meeting in the United States during the second semester of 2018.

Signed in Mexico City, on the 5th day of the month of June of 2017.