Mexico offers great potential for business development, attractive location advantages for foreign companies, and an enviable strategic location. Previously, we analyzed the role of the Cuarto de Junto as the only consultation mechanism in Mexico’s trade negotiations. During the modernization of NAFTA, now TMEC, the role of the “Cuarto de Junto” representing the Mexican private sector was a great ally of the Mexican government to achieve the new agreement.
Almost two years after the TMEC went into effect in June 2020, I’m thinking about the role that local actors have played in trade negotiations. Those paradiplomacy which the authors define as the international relations of governments and the involvement of local actors, was somehow reflected not only on the Mexican side but also on the North American side during the renegotiation of the trade agreement.
In the update of NAFTA, the participation, accompaniment and dialogue of the private sector with the government through “cuarto de junto” facilitated understanding of the benefits of the agreement not only in Mexico, but also in The United State. The the pressure In the United States has largely made possible progress sensitive topics in the negotiated chapters. During the renegotiation of NAFTA, the participation of federal entities in our country was associated with consultation processes launched by the Ministry of Economy, as well as working meetings with representatives of the State Ministry of Economy from entities involved in export and foreign investment. . She has been one of the most active participants in the process of engaging local governments and other interest groups in the United States Commerce & NAFTA Office In Washington (Bureau of Commerce and NAFTA) as well The Mexican Embassy, according to Guillermo Malbeca, Former representative of the Mexican government in Washington. However, in practice, states worked with state economic development ministers and participated in the National Governors Association (CONAGO).
by Mexican private sector, trade relations with their North American counterparts made it possible to convey this conversation about NAFTA to other business people, but also to congressional representatives and governors. According to Kenneth Smith, head of the Mexican negotiating team, more than 300 meetings have been held with key players in the United States. Including meetings in the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the media, dialogues and meetings with governors, and more than a hundred business meetings across the country. On the other hand, there have been more than 40 meetings with business and government officials in Canada.
pressure strategy Mexican private sector and some of my representatives Commerce & NAFTA Office In the United States, it was able to establish a very close dialogue with the private sector in the northern neighbor and was able to mobilize interest groups in favor of the agreement. The most important organizations and associations that emerged in this dynamic were: American Chamber of Commerce, Round Table Companies, Farm Bureau Insurance, and the National Association of Manufacturersas well as the USMCA.
From the pressure and share different interest groups In the United States, legislators, governors, cabinet members, and other officials, as well as associations, made a statement in favor of the signing of the new Mexico-US-Canada Trade Agreement.
During the modernization of NAFTA, bilateral relations between the two countries included the participation of federal governments, members of Congress, governors, cities, political parties, businessmen, chambers, business associations, pressure groups, research centersInternational organizations, NGOs and society are among other actors. The experience during the renegotiation of the agreement strengthened the capacity and capabilities to negotiate symbolic chapters for Mexico with challenges, but above all with opportunities for our country.
Today, we have an important challenge, the paradigm of business must be strengthened. Allies in future negotiations will be the private sector and subnational governments. From local, public or private, it is possible to enhance the global focus of the business.
Carla Maria Nava Aguirre
Director of the Global Business Degree and Research Professor at the UDEM School of Business. She is a Doctor of Administrative Sciences, PNPC CONACYT. Global MBA from Tec de Monterrey-Thunderbird, BA in International Studies from UDEM. Specialist in US-Mexico Border Studies by L. Kulff. It belongs to CONACYT’s System of National Scholars (SNI).
