The proposal builds on the Port of Brownsville’s existing presidential permit to construct an international bridge within its property boundaries—an authorization that has remained unexecuted since the Clinton administration.
Coupled with pre-verified Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) clearance and AI-driven document verification, cross-border transit times could drop dramatically.
"Becoming a trading engine rather than just a waypoint or a border crossing is really the big opportunity."
"We don't need sailors no more because it's autonomous," Perez noted, pointing out that small-to-mid-sized unmanned feeder ships carrying 10 to 15 containers could move cargo efficiently to hubs like Memphis.
"Anytime that there's an exchange like that, there needs to be a settling point, and money wants to be near the settling point," McDonald said.