U.S., Mexico ease telecommunications trade

U.S., Mexico ease telecommunications trade    The United States and Mexico signed an agreement Thursday that eases burdens on U.S. companies, particularly small manufacturers, seeking to export telecommunications products to Mexico.
   Under the agreement, Mexican regulatory authorities will accept tests performed by recognized U.S. laboratories to determine the conformity of telecommunications equipment with Mexican technical requirements, rather than requiring additional testing before the U.S. products can be sold in Mexico.
   'This agreement will save American manufacturers money and time by allowing them to test their products only once before exporting them to Mexico, supporting good jobs here at home and further facilitating the vital trade that happens between our two economies,' said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, in a statement.

Kirk

   Mexico is the United States' third-largest goods trading partner, with total two-way goods trade of $393 billion in 2010.
   The agreement covers equipment subject to telecommunications regulation, including wire and wireless equipment, and terrestrial and satellite equipment. Under the agreement, both parties have committed to undertake confidence building measures during an 18-month transition period, which will include joint meetings and training opportunities for government officials involved in designating and recognizing testing laboratories and reviewing test reports.
   It also preserves the authority of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to determine the level of safety protection it considers appropriate, and in no way lowers U.S. safety requirements, Kirk said.