Latin-American Markets Supplement Feature - Welcome

I’ve never seen the Rio Grande up close, but I’ve been told that at many points it is unimpressive as a border landmark. At times, the river does not appear to be much more than a stream, often trickling along a concrete path.

Whether the U.S.-Mexican border is marked by the Rio Grande or by an arbitrary line in the desert, the physical barrier is hardly insurmountable. What had kept business from being conducted across the border in the past were customs and tariff regulations, the language barrier, the lack of buying power in Mexico and fear of the unknown.

Increasingly over the past quarter century, the tariff and customs hurdles have been lowered, with the NAFTA agreement being the most prominent trade pact reached. By most accounts, these agreements have also helped build a Mexican middle class that can afford more goods and services.

The language barrier remains, but is hardly insurmountable for most companies. In the U.S., finding a capable Spanish-speaking employee should not pose a difficulty (especially in the Southwest), and English remains a commonly learned language in Mexico.

Fear of the unknown can remain a hurdle for people on either side of the border. But most business owners would agree, operating from a base of fear is not the way to manage a growing business.