The Future of North American Trade and Economic Integration

North American relations are currently at a boiling point. The new administration under Donald J. Trump has disrupted trade and economic integration trends by imposing tariffs on its neighbors, Mexico and Canada. This approach will reshape the rules of trade and economic dynamics of the region and those of the region with other parts of the world. However, despite turmoil at the federal level, the U.S.-Mexico border will likely continue to be a shining example of what integrated value chains can do for both countries. Some border economic regions, such as Brownsville-Matamoros, demonstrate that the historic economic integration between the U.S. and Mexico remains robust and largely unaffected by any of Mr. Trump’s executive orders. Even so, the stakes are high for redefining North American cooperation, and the common border should serve as the proverbial canary in the mineshaft for any real disruptions and future trends in the region's trade and economic relationships.

This half-day conference featured keynote speakers and panel discussions that forecasted the future of North American trade and economic integration. It also provided insights to help navigate those challenging times. A key highlight of the event was the presentation of reports from a series of workshops held in Houston and Monterrey, where industry leaders, policymakers, and economic experts examined the challenges of nearshoring — focusing on electricity, human capabilities, and infrastructure.

This event was sponsored by the Baker Institute Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and The Nearshore Company. It was free and open to the public. 

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Agenda