NCF2024: Legislative Strategies for Regional Strength with Susan Segal

Speakers:

• Luis Donaldo Colosio, Senator for Nuevo León, México
• Susan Segal, President and CEO, AS/COA
• Catherine McKenna, Founder and CEO, Climate and Nature Solutions
• Alejandro Murat, Senator for Oaxaca, México
• Nathan Johnson, Texas State Senator, District 16

Susan Segal, president and CEO of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA), hosted and moderated a panel titled "Legislative Strategies for Regional Strength" at the 2024 North Capital Forum on October 3 in Mexico City. The discussion centered on strengthening the relationship between Canada, Mexico, and the United States to foster greater trade integration across North America. 

Segal opened the conversation by highlighting the significant progress in North American relations in recent years. "The collaboration has strengthened all three countries in many positive ways. Commercially, it has turned Mexico into the U.S.'s largest trading partner and Canada into Mexico's second," she noted. "But it’s not just about trade. Our region faces a unique opportunity to unlock its full potential through inclusive development, nearshoring innovation, and enhanced competitiveness." 

Panelists also explored the crucial role of legislatures in advancing regional cooperation and maximizing trade opportunities. "Our nations need to understand the changes our neighbors are undergoing, and despite those changes, we must adapt our laws and treaties to ensure deeper economic integration," said Luis Donaldo Colosio, senator for Nuevo León, Mexico. 

Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson emphasized the importance of state legislators in navigating the rapidly changing technological, economic, and cultural landscape that challenges traditional political structures. "We are connected through our histories and economies, and as the world undergoes these changes, it’s more expedient to rely on our friends who are standing right next to us, rather than looking beyond the Northern Hemisphere," Johnson remarked. 

Alejandro Murat, senator for the Mexican state of Oaxaca, pointed to nearshoring as a key opportunity for enhancing trilateral cooperation. "Nearshoring offers great potential for the agreements we have today. For instance, the interoceanic corridor in Oaxaca can become a vital bridge for labor, linking the growing diasporas moving through Central America," he said. Catherine McKenna of the Canadian organization Climate and Nature Solutions contributed to the discussion by emphasizing the need to view climate and trade as interconnected issues. She argued that combining these conversations could lead to effective solutions for addressing current challenges.