Invite: Tues, Feb 18th- “US-Mexico: A Vital Modern Partnership”

*Changed from originally scheduled date*

February marks a big month in US-Mexico Relations. Last week, February 3rd-7th, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker led a delegation of 17 US businesses on her first trade mission to Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico. Next week, February 19th, President Obama will join his North American counterparts Canadian Prime Minister Harper and Mexican President Peña Nieto in Toluca, Mexico for their annual North American Leaders’ Summit.

In one public address during her trip, Secretary Pritzker remarked on the advance in US-Mexico relations:

“We both believe in the power of democracy and a vibrant middle class. We both believe that our growing bilateral trade, investment, and supply chains have made us stronger. And we both believe that entrepreneurship and innovation are crucial to our global competitiveness in the 21st century. The mere fact that we are gathered here today shows how the ties between our countries have dramatically deepened. Our commercial and economic relationship has become one of the most fruitful in the world – defined by openness, cooperation, and collaboration.”

While there is more to do, Mexico has made tremendous strides toward becoming a modern, democratic, economically developed country over the last generation.  As it has modernized and opened its economy, trade between the US and Mexico has skyrocketed from $80 billion to over $500 billion per year, and supports six million US jobs.  Its ambitious constitutional reform agenda has gained it international credibility and even more financial strength in just the last year.

As we progress in debates on important policy issues including immigration reform and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it is crucial that we employ a broader understanding of our relationship with our neighbor to the south.  The US-Mexico relationship is one of mutual and essential opportunity for our future as a country and a region.  

Please join us Tuesday for a lunchtime discussion of “US-Mexico: A Vital Modern Partnership.” We will present and release to the public an updated version of a presentation on Mexico, the US-Mexico Border, and Immigration Reform, followed by an interactive discussion.

Lunchtime Discussion: “US-Mexico: A Vital Modern Partnership”
RSVP here
Tuesday, February 18th, 12-1:15pm
Lunch served at 12 noon, Presentation will begin at 12:15pm
NDN Event Space: 729 15th St NW, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20005

For more information see our recent backgrounders on the US-Mexico Partnership and the Border.