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Event

Seventh Annual Building a Competitive U.S.- Mexico Border

Date

Aug. 10 – 11, 2021
3:00pm – 5:00pm ET

Location

Online Only

Overview

Each year our border conference brings together policymakers, business leaders, and local elected officials for a dialogue that focuses on improving border management to strengthen the competitiveness of both the United States and Mexico. This year's event placed specific emphasis on trade, travel and health as we considered how the border region will recover from the myriad impacts of COVID-19. 

The seventh annual-high level "Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border" conference hosted by the Mexico Institute and the Border Trade Alliance featured panel discussions with U.S. and Mexican public and private sector officials bringing sought-after perspectives to two days of discussion on border management.

  • Day one of the border conference can be viewed above, or linked here.
  • Day two of the border conference can be viewed here

Conference Agenda

  • 3:00pm – Welcome

    • Andrew I. Rudman, Director, Wilson Center Mexico Institute
    • Britton Mullen, President, BTA

    3:04pm - 3:30pm Keynote address

    • Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) 

    3:30pm - 4:00pm Manufacturing Panel

    • Kathy Neal, Director, Global Trade Compliance, Regal Beloit 
    • Luis Hernandez, President, INDEX 
    • Moderator: Duncan Wood, Senior Advisor, Mexico Institute, and Vice President of Strategy & New New Initiatives, Wilson Center

    4:00pm - 4:55pm Strengthening cross-border communities: Lessons from COVID-19

    • The Hon. Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego 
    • Maria Julia Marinissen, Health Attaché, US Embassy, Mexico City and Acting Director, Border Health Commission
    • Farid Hannan, Director of Economic Affairs, Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, Government of Mexico 
    • Moderator: Andrew I. Rudman, Director, Wilson Center Mexico Institute

    4:55pm- 5:00pm Closing

    • Duncan Wood, Senior Advisor to the Mexico Institute, Wilson Center
  • 3:00 pm Welcome 

    3:02pm Recorded Remarks

    • Senator Mike Crapo (R – ID) 

    3:10pm – 3:45pm US-Canada Border Working Group – lessons for US-Mexico border

    • Kathryn Friedman, Global Fellow, Canada Institute; Associate Professor, University at Buffalo
    • William Anderson, Director, Cross-Border Institute; Professor, University of Windsor
    • Laurie Trautman, Global Fellow, Canada Institute; Director, Border Policy Research Institute
    • Moderator: Christopher Sands, Director, Canada Institute

    3:45pm- 4:45pm Revitalizing the Cross-Border Economy 

    • Sergio Mendoza, Presidente, Desarrollo Económico, Chihuahua 
    • Hector Cerna, President and CEO, International Bank of Commerce, Eagle Pass, TX
    • Sergio Contreras, President and CEO, Rio Grande Valley Partnership & BTA Chairman
    • Jorge Goytortúa, CEO, Cross-Border Xpress, 
    • Moderator: Britton Mullen, President, BTA

    4:45 pm- 5:00 pm Closing Remarks

    • Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne, Public Policy Fellow and co-chair, Mexico Institute Advisory Board, Wilson Center

Hosted By

Mexico Institute

The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute.   Read more

Thank you for your interest in this event. Please send any feedback or questions to our Events staff.