El Paso Conference to Focus on US-Mexico Trade, Economies
El Paso Conference to Focus on US-Mexico Trade, Economies
The August 7 conference will examine the impact of border trade on U.S.-Mexico relations and competitiveness.
While immigration and border security have been in the national dialogue recently, several lawmakers and business leaders on both sides of the border are hoping to turn the conversation to economics.
"We wanted to broaden the discussion and talk about the impact of border trade not just on our region, but across the nation," said U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.
O'Rourke will serve as a moderator at the Border Conference on U.S.-Mexico Competitiveness Agenda, a daylong conference at the University of Texas at El Paso on Wednesday. The conference is organized by the Council of the Americas and hosted by UTEP and O'Rourke.
More than 300 legislators and business and civic leaders are expected to attend the conference, which includes topics like advancing the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship and views of reform agendas from both nations. Stimulating competitiveness through infrastructure investment and public/private partnerships, and trade relationships 20 years after NAFTA also will be discussed.
"North America is a co-production platform; we do not just trade with Mexico, but we build products together," Council of the Americas Chairman John Negroponte said in a statement.
Negroponte is one of several key speakers at the conference. Others include Mexican Ambassador to the United States Eduardo Medina Mora; U.S. Ambassador to Mexico E. Anthony Wayne; Mexican Federal Congress member Javier Treviño; and Texas Secretary of State John Steen....
