AMC through the decades: 1990s

Throughout the 1990s the Arizona Mexico Commission released numerous reports that covered Arizona and Mexico-related issues , allowing the state’s leaders to track progress and determine areas in need of attention.

Early 1990s

In 1991, Arizona exports to Mexico reached $5 billion. By 2018, exports reached more than $7.5 billion, according to Arizona-Mexico Economic Indicators.

In 1992, the State of Arizona opened a trade office in Hermosillo, Sonora to support business growth in both states and benefit the entire Arizona-Sonora region.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was ratified in 1993 by all North American partners and became law.

That same year, The Arizona Trade Corridor Study ordered by Governor Fife Symington was completed.

The study covered Arizona’s role in the trade corridor and the potential benefits to the state, region, and the nation.

Mid 1990s

In 1994, the U.S. House of Representatives issued a conference report instructing the U.S. Customs Service to undertake a Unified Binational Border Port Management Pilot Project.

The project was intended to design and test a model of unified border port management in the Nogales Customs District.

In 1995, the Arizona State Legislature appropriated $925,000 for the border port management pilot project, as well as the initiation phase of the CANAMEX multistate trade coalition.

CANAMEX is a series of highways established under the North American Free Trade Agreement that links Mexico to Canada through the U.S.

Late 1990s

In 1997, the Arizona Port Efficiency Study: Mariposa Cargo Redesign Project Port of Nogales was released.

The AMC assisted the designation of the U.S. consulate in Hermosillo as a U.S. Consulate General office in 1998. It opened that year and established a permanent consulate office in Nogales, Sonora.

In 1999, Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull led her first trade mission to Mexico City, Mexico and met with Mexico President Ernesto Zedillo.

The AMC partnered with the University of Arizona that year to create the Regional Economic Indicators Report of 1999-2004, 2006 and 2009. The report includes data and key trends of the region.