Last week, TAB had the privilege of participating in the US-Mexico Leaders' Summit: Binational High-Level Dialogue in Brownsville, Texas.
I was honored to be a contributor on the panel, "Bridging Borders: Leveraging US-Mexico Partnerships," and was glad to be joined in Brownsville by David Zapata, TAB’s Vice President of International Affairs, and Julia Muzquiz, TAB’s Director of Strategic Initiatives.
This panel brought together influential leaders from both sides of the border to explore the vast potential of our binational relationship. The discussion was expertly moderated by Pedro Casas Alatriste and featured insights from Altagracia Gomez, Lorenzo Barrera, and Joaquin Spamer.
Texas and Mexico share more than just a border; we share a deeply intertwined economic future. The conversations at the summit underscored the critical role of strategic partnerships in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and ensuring prosperity for both regions.
Central to this economic partnership is the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The agreement has proven to be a cornerstone of our economic success, especially as nearshoring trends reshape global trade. Mexico has now emerged as the United States' top trading partner, followed closely by Canada, with China slipping to third. This shift highlights the strategic importance of strengthening trade and commercial relationships with our North American neighbors. The unanimous support for USMCA from all members of Texas’ congressional delegation further underscores both its broad, bipartisan appeal and critical role in securing our state’s economic future.
As we look ahead, it is essential to prioritize the continued success of USMCA across all three member countries. This includes concerted efforts to reduce non-tariff barriers, avoid the imposition of new tariffs, and expand the use of TN visas, facilitating the seamless movement of skilled workers and products across our borders.
Trade between the United States and Mexico is approaching $1 trillion, and it's noteworthy that 81% of all goods entering the U.S. by rail and truck come through Texas ports. This fact highlights Texas' pivotal role in our nation's trade infrastructure and underscores the importance of maintaining strong cross-border trade relationships.
At the summit, it was also a pleasure to hear from Adriana Cruz, Executive Director of Governor Abbott's Economic Development Office, who delivered remarks on Governor Abbott’s behalf to this binational group of private sector and government leaders. Her remarks highlighted Texas' economic success and our key role as an international trade partner with Mexico.
The visit provided a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with key leaders and friends, including Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Ana Garcia from Senator Cornyn's office, William Dietrich from the Port of Brownsville, Rolando Pablos who heads TAB's Mexico Trade & Investment Policy Council, Shirley Temple from Governor Abbott's Economic Development Office, James Taylor from the State of Texas Office in Mexico, Carlos Ealy from the Secretary of State's Mexican and Border Affairs Office, and Caroline Mays from the Texas Department of Transportation.
It was particularly special to reunite with Roberto Velasco Álvarez, Chief Officer for North America for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, to discuss how we can sustain and further strengthen the prosperous Texas-Mexico economic relationship, even as both nations navigate upcoming presidential transitions. The exchange of ideas and reaffirmation of our shared goals made this summit especially memorable, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration.
The Texas Association of Business remains committed to strengthening the ties between Texas and Mexico. By building on our strong foundation of collaboration, we can unlock new opportunities and create a thriving future for both regions.
We invite you to deepen your engagement in this crucial relationship by joining our TAB delegation to Mexico City from September 30th – October 4th. During this visit, we will engage with the public and private sectors and participate in the Presidential inauguration festivities.
Space is limited so don't miss this rare opportunity! For more information or to register, click here.
- Glenn Hamer, President & CEO, Texas Association of Business
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