Mexico Tires Certification Agreement

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Executive Office of the President

Washington, D.C.

20508

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 96-25

Monday, March 18, 1996 Contact:

Anne Luzzatto

Dianne Wildman

Kirsten Powers

(202) 395-3230

U.S. and Mexico Agree to Mechanism for Streamlining

Approval of Tires

USTR Mickey Kantor announced today that the United States and Mexico had agreed on a mechanism for streamlining the approval of new truck and passenger car tires exported to Mexico. Under the agreement, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will identify laboratories it recognizes as competent to test to the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Test data from these laboratories (which includes manufacturer's facilities) will be used by Mexican authorities in determining whether the product meets the Mexican regulations and is entitled to certification. Greater efficiencies will be achieved by eliminating the need to duplicate performance and safety testing, and ship tires to Mexico for testing by laboratories located in Mexico.

This agreement was facilitated by the close cooperation between U.S. and Mexican regulatory authorities which are working together on a range of standards issues as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Committee on Standards-Related Measures. The agencies were able to evaluate and agree upon the functional equivalency of the performance and safety requirements which paved the way for the agreement on test data.

Initially, NHTSA has identified three U.S. laboratories for purposes of providing data to the Mexican authorities, and it intends to proceed with a request for the recognition of additional laboratories.

Kantor stated that: "This agreement is noteworthy because it builds on the NAFTA, which requires acceptance of U.S. test data in 1998. It is another demonstration of the benefits the NAFTA is providing for U. S. firms and workers."

DEPUTY UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506

202-395-5114

March 8,1996

Dr. Jaime Zabludovsky Kuper

Subsecretario de Negociaciones

Comerciales lnternacionales

Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento Industrial

Alfonso Reyes 30 Piso 16

Col. Hipodromo Condesa

06170 Mexico, D.F.

Dear Dr. Zabludovsky:

Pursuant to Article 908.2 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and notwithstanding Annex 908.2 of such Agreement, I have the honor to confirm the following understanding reached between representatives from Mexico and the United States:

1. The Government of the United States of American through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Government of Mexico, through Direccion General de Normas of Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento Industrial, will indicate in Annex I the laboratories accepted or recognized to conduct tire tests in accordance with the United States of America Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 109 and 119 new pneumatic tires and new pneumatic tires for other than passenger cars, respectively and the Mexican Official Standards NOM-086-SCFI/SCT-1994 Rubber Industry -- tires for passenger cars -- specifications and test methods -- and NOM-0 16-SCFI-2-1994 Rubber Industry -- Tires for trucks -- specifications and test methods, of Mexico.

2. The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Mexico recognize that the procedures used by the laboratories listed in Annex I, ensure the reliability and uniformity of the test results in accordance with the applicable international guidelines, and their technical capability to conduct tests as well.

3. According to the domestic procedures in each country, the results of the tests performed in such laboratories will be recognized and used in the certification and verification of the conformity with the technical regulations.

Dr. Jaime Zabludovsky Kuper

Page 2

4. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the case of the United States of America, and the Direccion General de Normas of Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento Industrial in the case of Mexico, could modify the list of laboratories of Annex I, through a written notification to the competent authority of the other country, 30 days before such modifications apply.

5. In addition to the test laboratories set forth in Annex I, both countries will recognize other test laboratories established in the territory of the United States of America or Mexico as long as they have been notified in accordance with paragraph 4.

I have the honor to confirm that your letter and this letter will constitute an agreement

between our governments, effective from this date.

Sincerely,

[signature]

Charlene Barshefsky

Attachment

Annex I

LABORATORY FACILITIES RECOGNIZED by the NATIONAL HIGHWAY

TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION as HAVING the TECHNICAL

CAPABILITY to CONDUCT TESTS IN ACCORDANCE with the FEDERAL

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

1. Standards Testing Laboratory (STL)

1845 Harsh Avenue, SE

Box 592

Massillon, Ohio 44646

Phone: (216) 833-8548

Fax: (216) 833-7902

2. Smithers Scientific Services (SSS)

425 West Market Street

Akron, Ohio 44303

Phone: (216) 762-7244

Fax: (216) 762-7447

3. Cooper Tire and Rubber Company

701 Lima Avenue

Findlay, Ohio 45840

Phone: (419) 423-1321

Fax: (419) 424-7320

SECRETARIA DE

COMERCIO Y

FOMENTO INDUSTRIAL EMBASSY OF MEXICO

NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT OFFICE

1911 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, 8th Floor

Washington, D.C, 20006

(202) 728-1600 - FAX (202)- 296-4904

March 19, 1996

Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky

Deputy U. S. Trade Representative

Washington, DC

Dear Ambassador Barshefsky:

Please find enclosed original letter addressed to you on March 8, by Dr. Jaime Zabludovsky, Mexican Undersecretary of International Trade Negotiations, regarding our understanding on tire safety inspections.

Sincerely yours,

[signature]

Luis de la Calle

Director

DR. JAIME ZABLUDOVZKY KUPER

SUBSECRETARIO DE NEGOCIACIONES

COMERCIALES INTERNACIONALES

Mexico, D.F. a 8 de marzo de 1996

501/021/96

Charlene Barshefsky

Representante Adjunto

Oficina del Representante Comercial

de los Estados Unidos

600 Seventeenth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20506

Estimada Sra. Barshefsky:

De conformidad con lo establecido en el articulo 908.2 del Tratado d'e Libre Comercio de America del Norte (TLC), y no obstante lo dispuesto en el anexo 908.2 del mismo, tengo el honor de confirmar el siguiente entendimiento alcanzado entre los representantes de Mexico y Estados Unidos.

1. El gobierno de Mexico a traves de la Direccion General de Normas de la Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento Industrial, y el gobierno de Estados Unidos a traves de la National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), indicaran en el anexo I los laboratorios que son aceptados o acreditados para realizar las pruebas establecidas en las Normas Oficiales Mexicanas NOM-086-SCFI/SCT-1994 Industria Hulera - Llantas para automoviles - Especificaciones y metodos de pruebas y NOM-016-SCFI-2-1994 Industria Hulera - Llantas para camion- Especificaciones y metodos de pruebas, de Mexico y la Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) de los Estados Unidos de America, numeros 109 y 119 New pneumatic tires y new pneumatic tires for other than passenger cars, respectivamente;

2. El gobierno de Mexico y el gobierno de Estados Unidos reconocen que los procedimientos utilizados por los laboratorios contenidos en el anexo I, aseguran la confiabilidad y uniformidad de sus resultados conforme a los lineamientos internacionaleses aplicables, asi como su capacidad tecnica para realizar pruebas;

3. Los resultados de las pruebas efectuadas en dichos laboratorios seran reconocidos y utilizados en los procesos de certificacion y de verificacion del cumplimiento de los

DR. JAIME ZABLUDOVZKY KUPER

SUBSECRETARIO DE NEGOCIACIONES

COMERCIALES INTERNACIONALES

reglamentos tecnicos, segun los procedimientos que para el efecto utilice cada uno de los paises;

4. La Direccion General de Normas de la Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento Industrial en el caso de Mexico, y la National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), en el caso de Estados Unidos, respectivamente, podran modificar su lista del anexo I mediante notificacion por escrito a la autoridad del otro pais, con treinta dias de anticipacion a la fecha. en que dichas modificaciones se aplicaran;

5. En adicion a los senalodos en el anexo I, ambos paises reconoceran otros laboratorios de prueba que esten establecidos en el territorio de Mexico o Estados Unidos, siempre que hayan sido notificados de acuerdo a lo dispuesto en el inciso anterior.

Tengo el honor de confirmar que su carta y esta carta constituyen un acuerdo entre nuestros gobiernos, con efectos a partir de esta fecha.

Atentamente,

[signature]

Jaime Zabludovsky Kuper

Subsecretario de Negociaones

Comerciales Internacionales

LABORATORIOS ACREDITADOS EN EL SINALP PARA PROBAR LLANTAS.

INDUSTRIA METAL MECANICA.

Cia. Hulera Tornel, S.A. de MM-065-092/93 Pruebas a llantas.

C.V. 931209-951208 NOM-016-SCFI-2-1993

NOM-015-SCFI-2-1993

Calle Nueva Sto Domingo

No. 110

Col. Fracc. Ind. San Antonio

Delegacion Azcapotzalco.

02760 Mexico, D.F

Tel: 561 61 11 Ext. 1627

Fax 561 21 51

Representante Autorizado

Ing. Maria Moya Cabrera.

Ing. Tomas Lorenzo Pacheco

Mota.

General Tire de Mexico, S.A. MM-088-143/94 Pruebas a llantas de

de C.V. 940622-960621 automovil y camion

Laboratorio Centro de Pruebas NOM-086-SCFI/S.C.T.-

Miguel de Cervantes Saveedra 1994.

No.369 NOM-016-SCT-2-1994

Col. Anahuac.

Deleg. Miguel Hidalgo.

11320 Mexico, D.F

Tel. 545 70 80

326 39 00 Ext. 3283

531 54 00

Fax: 203 14 19

Representante Autorizado

Ing. Juan Manuel Ramirez

Cazares.

Cia. Hulera Euzkadi, S.A. de MM-089-147/94 Pruebas a Ilantas para

C. V. 940908-960997 automovil y camion.

Krn. 3.5 Carr. El Salto Jalisco

Guadalajara, Jalisco.

45680 Mexico

Tel. 91 (3) 688 03 35 Ext.4304

688 04 64 Ext.4360

Fax. 91 (3) 688 12 08

688 02 08

Representante Autorizado

Ing. Jesus Cabrera Frausto

Cia. Hulera Good Year Oxo, MM-035-045/4 Llantas de automovil y

S.A. de C.V. 941116-961115 camion.

Km. 14.5 Carr. Puente de NOM-016-SCT/2-1994.

Vigas Cuautitlan. NOM 086 SCFI/SCT-1994

Tultitlan, Edo. de Mexico.

54900 Mexico

Tel. 872 50 00

565 40 22

Ext. 2162/21110

Fax. 872 32 04

Representante Autorizado

Ing. Rafael Mendoza Garcia.

Uniroyal, S.A. de C.V. MM-009-27/95 Llantas de Automovil y

(Planta Tacuba) 950428-970427 camion.

Lago Aullagas No. 60 NOM-086 SCFI/SCT-1994

Col. Torreblanca. NOM-016 -SCT/2-1994.

Deleg. Miguel Hidalgo

11280 Mexico, D.F

Tel. 527 20 20 Ext. 246

Fax. 91 (07)71 - 197

Representante Autorizado

Ing. Gerardo Ponce Grande.

Bridgestone/Firestone de MM-039-008/95 Pruebas a llantas de

Mexico, S.A. de C.V. 950607-970606 Automovil y camion.

Km 87.5 Carr. Mexico- NOM-086-SCFT/SCT-1994.

Acapulco. NOM-16-SCFI/SCT- 1994.

Col. Flores Magon.

Cuernavaca, Morelos.

62370 Mexico.

Tel. 91 (73) 16 14 12

16 15 00

Fax. 91 (73) 16 01 50

Representante Autorizado

Lic. Gerardo Balderas Gordillo.

Uniroyal, S.A. de C.V. MM - 052 40/95 Pruebas a llantas.

(Planta Queretaro) 950713-970712 NOM-086-SCFI/SCT-1994.

Av. 5 de Febrero No. 2113 NOM-016-SCT/2-1994.

Col. Industrial Benito Juarez.

Queretaro, Qro

75120 Mexico.

Tel. 91 (42) 17 05 02

91 (42) 17 02 02

Fax. 91 (42) 17 08 99 Ext. 107

Representante Autorizado

Ing. Gerardo Ponce Grande.