July 20th and beyond: The Background Music has Changed. 

Welcome to The View from North America. As U.S. and Mexican negotiators prepare to meet in Mexico City on Monday, July 20th, we are seeing some progress. According to Mexico’s Ministry of the Economy the active number of trade issues has been whittled down from over 54 to a more manageable 14, and both teams have…

USMCA, July 1 Verdict: And the beat goes on.

Welcome to The View from North America—and happy July 4th weekend to those of you in the U.S. If you are Canadian, a belated happy Canada Day; and finally, congratulations to USA, Mexico and Canada for booking their places in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ – Canada, Mexico and the United States World Cup Round…

The Disconnect: Geopolitical uncertainty, Cross-Border reality

Welcome to The View from North America — my quick-take on the regional dynamics shaping the cross-border corridor. If you are looking for clarity in global headlines right now, good luck. Between the continued lack of transparency surrounding Iran’s recent diplomatic memorandum and the tactical shifts from Ukraine’s latest advances, the big geopolitical picture remains highly…

The U.S., Mexico and migration: Time for cooperation, not coercion.

The following opinion editorial was published recently in the San Antonio Express-New and the Austin American-Statesman: In the piece I discuss the limits of economic ‘sticks’  to forge immigration policy and the now critical need for bilateral and regional cooperation, not coercion in our relationship with Mexico. It’s time to address U.S. immigration and asylum systems,…

A sweltering summer, and market fall.

This past Monday, the Trump administration delayed the full onset of another round of tariffs against consumer goods from China through December. It was welcome news, but not enough to reverse current market trends or to keep China from promising countermeasures. By all indicators, the global economy is steadily cooling down and the United States and other major economies…

A Tariff, Gone Too Far…

Later today, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, United States Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet regarding the Trump administration’s announcement that they will apply 5 percent tariffs on all goods coming from Mexico (set to start on June 10), if Mexico does not stop migrants from reaching the United States. It’s…

Shutdown averted, USMCA and Energy Reform still big question marks.

Yesterday, President Trump appeared to back away from his threat to close the U.S.-Mexico border. The change of tone was a relief, especially for the North American business and border communities that would be paralyzed from the halted cross-border trade and movement.

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