Sacramento Regional
Center for International Trade Development
California Mexico Trade Assistance Center (CMTAC)...

On a foundation crafted by the ancient but sophisticated civilizations of the Olmec, Mayan, Teotihuacan, and Aztec with their magnificent structures and gilded artifacts, Mexico appears to be reclaiming the treasures inherent in its people and the land. Mexico has crossed the threshold into globalization which is dramatically changing the country's economic, political, and social systems making it one of the top six choices for world exports. Maquiladoras, the often state-of-the-art assembly and production plants that have proliferated under NAFTA, have spurred the growth of high tech, motor vehicles and parts, processed foods, steel, textile, and other industries. Advanced manufacturing techniques in those industries combined with NAFTA's free trade polices, inexpensive labor, Mexico's proximity to the U.S., Canada, and Latin America have significantly increased demand for their imports.

Mexico now supersedes Japan and Canada as California's largest trading partner. In 2000, the state's exports to Mexico tallied $19 billion compared to $6.5 billion in 1993. Those increases have happened in spite of Mexico's economic crises in 1994 and 1995. California Technology Trade and Commerce Agency reports that California exports to Mexico directly and in 2000, indirectly supported approximately 228,000 jobs in our state, with more than 150,000 of these jobs resulting from export growth due to NAFTA.

Two years ago, realizing the opportunities for both California and Mexico businesses, California Grey Davis and then Mexico President Zedillo agreed to appropriate funds for the purpose of encouraging bilateral trade. As a result, eighteen California Mexico Trade Assistance Centers (CMTAC) were created to assist California companies in capturing profits from importing and exporting. The Sacramento Regional CMTAC provides a variety of services for northern California businesses throughout its 12-county service area. Consultants experienced in trade with Mexico, Spanish language, government regulations, cultural and business practices can link clients with viable opportunities, identify obstacles and provide strategies for working through them. Because the CMTAC is linked with eighteen statewide centers, it has access to Mexico trade experts and proprietary databases connecting companies to Mexican buyers and suppliers. Clients also benefit from trade missions to Mexico along with and information gained from seminars and conferences sponsored by the CMTAC. Phone 916/563-3219 or visit the website at www.sacramentocitd.org or more information.

Importers and Exporters doing business in the 12-county region surrounding Sacramento can take advantage of the following services:

• Individual consulting on such topics as:

• Best markets

• Working with Mexico and U.S. Customs

• Selecting agents/distributors
• Finding buyers and suppliers
• Freight forwarders and custom house brokers
• Trade regulations
• Extensive research to supplement consultations
• Conferences, seminars and customized training
• Spanish language consultations and/or translation for business documents
• Trade missions for buyer/supplier links and cultural understanding

• California-Mexico database of buyers and suppliers

In addition, to reduce the chance for costly mistakes and to simplify the buying and selling process, the Sacramento CMTAC has formed strategic partnerships with several other agencies providing international trade services. For example, the Sacramento CMTAC funds a Mexico trade expert housed with the Northern California World Trade Center to consult with clients throughout the 10-county region. Also, we are very fortunate to be linked with the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) export offices in Sacramento and Mexico City who provide information and trade leads critical to the success of our clients. In addition, our work is supported by the California Technology Trade and Commerce Agency (CTTCA) foreign trade office in Mexico City. Working together with both agencies and other CITDs/CMTACs, we provide access to and guidance with outbound and inbound trade missions. Experts at the other seventeen CMTACs also deliver assistance when appropriate.

In these pages, we have endeavored to give you basic information along with links to other resources where you can find more in-depth information. We encourage you to contact the CMTAC through this website or by phone for additional information or an appointment with one of our consultants. Remember, because the CMTACs are grant funded through the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, there is no cost for most of our services.