The U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce binational board of directors gathered in Washington, D.C., on May 29 for their Annual Meeting, Conference and Good Neighbor Awards Gala. The conference and board meeting were held at the Mayflower Hotel while the gala was held at the Organization of American States (OAS) building.
Conference Panel Discussions
The conference began with a panel discussion regarding border issues. Panelists agreed that much work is needed as trade is being impacted by current immigration challenges.
“We can’t enforce our way out of this challenge. We need to support Mexico on their southern border,” said David Aguilar, principal of Global Security and Innovative Strategies and former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Dr. Jose Zozaya, chairman of the board, president, general manager and executive representative for Kansas City Southern de Mexico said, “We are facing delays in trade on freight because of immigration problems. We are not doing what is needed. U.S. and Mexico need to work together on the southern border of Mexico.”
The second panel focused on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Panelists were Sergio Garcia Gomez, former head of the Section for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Mexico U.S.; Ricardo Martinez, Secretary of Economic Development for the State of Aquascalientes; Eduardo Infante, Undersecretary of Economy for the State of Aguascalientes, Gary H. Baise, principal attorney at OFW Law1 and general counsel for the U.S. Grains Council and Agricultural Retailers Association; and Angel H. Ramirez, Mexico Market Leader for Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP.
Binational Board of Directors Meeting
Following the panel discussions, the binational board of directors of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce convened for the annual meeting where they announced unanimous support for the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
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Albert Zapanta, president of the USMCOC; David Aguilar, principal of Global Security; Juan Acereto Cevera, Representative of the Government of Ciudad Juarez for International Affairs and Joseph Chapa, VP of Finance and Executive Director of the Trade Development and Assistance Center.PHOTO 2
Sergio Garcia Gomez, economist and former Minister of Economic affairs at the embassy of Mexico in the U.S. and senior advisor on trade and investment to the USMCOC; Ricardo Martinez, Secretary of Economy for the State of Aguascalientes; Eduardo Infante, undersecretary of economy for the Sate of Aguascalientes, Gary H. Baise, principal attorney, OFQ Law and general counsel for the U.S. Grains Council and Agricultural Retailers Association and Angel H. Ramirez, Mexico Market Leader at Baker Tilly.
White House Briefing
Board members were invited to the White House for briefings from key administration officials who shared current trade policy and legislative objectives relating to the passage of the USMCA, overall border security and immigration issues. White House representatives discussed the administration’s policy objectives, legislative challenges and welcomed feedback and support from the attendees.
Following the White House briefing, board members received an update from John M. Melle, chief negotiator and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for the Western Hemisphere on specifics of the USMCA and how it improves upon the current NAFTA framework.
USTR is part of the executive branch. Through an interagency structure, USTR coordinates trade policy, resolves disagreements, and frames issues for presidential decision. The trade representative also serves on several financial and monetary boards including: Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Millennium Challenge Corporation, is a non-voting member of the Export-Import Bank board of directors, and a member of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies.2
Melle, who assisted in writing NAFTA over twenty-five years ago, stressed the importance of passing the USMCA. In addition to proposed revisions and inclusions of new topics not currently covered in any other trade agreement currently in force, USMCA may provide other nations a framework for future trade agreements.
According to Melle, USMCA would become “the new gold standard” for future trade agreements. He also shared that, as a consequence of NAFTA’s passage, Mexico and Canada began to increase their international free trade agreements and have implemented language found in NAFTA in many of those agreements. USMCA may have the same effect with U.S. allies and their respective trade partners.
The briefing concluded with the directors and leadership of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce reiterating their unanimous support for passage of the USMCA.
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Briefing at the USTR.PHOTO 2 and 3
USMCOC board members during the White House briefing at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
1. Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC
2. https://ustr.gov/about-us/about-ustr
Good Neighbor Awards Ceremony & Dinner Gala
Later that evening, the Good Neighbor Awards were presented at the annual USMCOC gala. Rabbi Levi Shemtov provided an inspirational invocation. As honorary president of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, H.E. Martha Barcena, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, provided the keynote address advocating for continued cooperation between our two countries.
Recipients of the 2019 Good Neighbor Awards were:
• Private Sector Leadership Award: Jayson Adair, CEO of Copart Inc. and Francisco J. López Espinoza, owner and CEO of Multicolor Grupo Gráfico.
• Public Sector Leadership Award: Hon. Martín Orozco Sandoval, governor of the State of Aguascalientes.
• Border Leadership Award: Hon. Dee Margo, mayor of the City of El Paso, Texas, and Hon. Armando Cabada Alvidrez, mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.
• Special Leadership Award: Javier Vélez Bautista for his many years of support for the Chamber.
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Ambassador Martha Barcena, shares her remarks during the opening of the Good Neighbor Awards ceremony.PHOTO 2
José Zozaya and Albert Zapanta present the Good Neighbor Award to Jayson Adair.PHOTO 3
Francisco J. López Espinoza, owner and CEO of Multicolor Grupo Gráfico.PHOTO 4
Ricardo Martinez, Secretary of Economy of the State of Aguascalientes, receives the Good Neighbor Award on behalf of Hon. Martín Orozco Sandoval, Governor of the State of Aguascalientes.PHOTO 5
Hon. Dee Margo, Mayor of the City 45 of El Paso, Texas recipient of the Border Leadership Award.PHOTO 6
Lic. Rodolfo Martínez Ortega receives the Border Leadership Award on behalf of Hon. Armando Cabada Alvidrez, Mayor of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.PHOTO 7
Special Leadership Award.
