Experts offer help for would-be traders.

In vying to become the Texas trade capital, sibling rivalry among cities is intense. San Antonio boasts of its geographical and cultural proximity to Mexico. Houston touts its pulsating port. And Laredo, the state's largest border city, claims the moniker of "gateway to Latin America."

As the North American Free Trade Agreement nears reality, interest in trade has intensified and the competition has grown even more fierce. Undaunted, Dallas has joined the fray, boasting of its cosmopolitan nature and its status as home to the nation's second-busiest airport.

To be sure, trade boosters in Dallas abound. In claiming the top trade title, some city leaders go beyond mere braggadocio, claiming the status is rightfully theirs through manifest destiny. Dallas, they note, has its roots in trade, since the city was founded as Texas' first …