Trade Advisory Group
Trade Advisory Group
The Trade Advisory Group (TAG), open to Council of the Americas member representatives and invited experts, advocates for open markets, trade facilitation, and rules-based trading systems in the Western Hemisphere. TAG members share a common commitment to the principle that international trade is a critical element in achieving sustainable economic growth in the United States and the nations of the Americas. TAG is a leading platform for policy-level idea generation and guidance related to hemispheric trade and investment, consistent with the longstanding values of the Council of the Americas.
Council of the Americas prioritizes the importance of a robust North American trade and investment relationship as fundamental to our own competitiveness. Trade and investment are the glue that holds the region together and should be expanded throughout the Americas for mutual benefit.
This is equally true for hemispheric relations beyond North America. Latin America and the Caribbean must remain a critical partner for the United States.
Opportunities are available for COA corporate members to sponsor the Trade Advisory Group.
TAG Private Events in 2026:
- TAG Kick-Off Luncheon with Kellie Meiman: On February 25, The Trade Advisory Group (TAG) Lunch convened senior business leaders and policy experts to exchange perspectives on evolving U.S.–Latin America trade dynamics and to help shape the group’s strategic agenda. Discussions focused on key regional and policy developments, including the upcoming USMCA review, critical minerals, and emerging U.S. trade tools, while identifying priority areas for coordinated private sector engagement. The session served as a platform to align member priorities, inform actionable recommendations, and strengthen dialogue with policymakers on the future of hemispheric trade.
- TAG Breakfast on Advancing Priorities & USMCA Discussion with Christopher Sands - Director of the Center for Canadian Studies at the Johns Hopkins University: On March 25, the Trage Advisory Group (TAG) convened its second meeting of the year to discuss regional trade priorities, with a focus on the evolving dynamics of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). Featuring expert perspectives from Mexico and Canada, the session examined the review process, key areas of uncertainty, and broader geopolitical and supply chain considerations shaping North American trade. The discussion helped inform priority areas for private sector engagement and strengthened dialogue around upcoming trade policy milestones.
TAG Private Events in 2025:
- USMCA: COA Members Trade Consultation, February 3
- TAG Meeting with Miguel Castilla, Former Peru Minister and Ambassador, February 6
- Brazil Trade Policy 2025: A Conversation with Foreign Trade Secretary Tatiana Prazeres, February 24
- Members Trade Briefing: Tariffs on Mexico, March 10
- Virtual Briefing with Goldy Hyder, President and CEO, Business Council of Canada, March 20
- Regional Trade & Investment with Isabella Cascarano, March 25
- Private Discussion with Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), March 31
- Meeting with Edgar Amador Zamora, Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, Mexico, October 14
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TAG Comments and White Papers:
- Read comments submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative on November 3, 2025 ahead the 2026 USCMA join review
- Read comments submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative on March 11, 2025 to assist in reviewing and identifying unfair trade practices and initiating all necessary actions to investigate harm from non-reciprocal trade arrangements
- Read comments submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative on January 8, 2025 in response to the Section 301 Investigation of Nicaragua’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Labor Rights, Human Rights, and Rule of Law
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) faces a mandatory review in 2026. COA’s Trade Advisory Group actively advocates for USMCA as critical for North American competitiveness. We support negotiations within a coordinated trilateral process at any point prior to the 2026 deadline.
Our activities around USCMA include:
- Briefings by senior Mexican and Canadian officials, including secretaries and ministers, under secretaries, and other senior officials and observers.
- By-invitation activities with senior Congressional representatives including the chair and ranking member of the House trade subcommittee and others.
- Separate events with the U.S., Mexican, and Canadian Ambassadors.
- Panel discussions with private sector leaders and analysts discussing scenarios and options.
On behalf of members, COA submitted comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative ahead of the 2026 Joint Review.
New tariffs risk setbacks in the fight against inflation and will also make it harder for North America to compete against China.
“Chinese investment and financing embed negative externalities,” says an AS/COA publication aimed at entrepreneurs competing with Beijing in the region.
Washington must take a bigger role in engaging and supporting its allies in Latin America, says AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth.
Council of the Americas supports President Biden’s proposed Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity.