We are pleased to invite you to join former US trade representative Ambassador Carla Hills at a round-table discussion and launch of the Inter-American Dialogue’s report on Mexico-US relations, “A More Ambitious Agenda."

Produced by a commission of both Mexican and US members and chaired by President Ernesto Zedillo and Ambassador Hills, the report concludes that last year’s concurrent elections in Mexico and the US have opened the way for the two countries to forge an even closer and more productive partnership. It emphasizes a range of opportunities that, if jointly seized upon, will accelerate growth, create new jobs, and elevate the global competitiveness of both nations. Other speakers will include commission member and former congressman Jim Kolbe.

The Dialogue report applauds the plans of new Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto to pursue a far-reaching program of economic reform, particularly in the energy sector. The reform agenda would allow Mexico to remain a major oil exporter and set the stage for a genuine North American energy market. Furthermore, the participation of the US and Mexico, along with Canada, in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations gives the NAFTA partners the best opportunity in some time to reinforce their existing trade arrangement.

It also endorses a thoroughgoing and sensible reform of US immigration policies—made possible in part by the decisive impact of the Latino vote on the US election. Besides making US immigration laws more humane, a new policy approach would be a boon to both the Mexican and US economies. The report supports the Mexican government’s plans to review its security strategies and urges both governments to reexamine US-Mexico security cooperation—and to begin a bilateral exploration of alternative approaches to drug control, including marijuana legalization. 

The report acknowledges the obstacles that stand in the way of progress, but the current political climate in both countries offers a rare opportunity to make significant headway. Presidents Peña Nieto and Obama have four full years ahead of them to forge an even deeper partnership.

< Back to List of Events