Overview of the Meeting
The Mexican Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) convened business leaders, experts, and representatives from strategic organizations through its T-MEC Strategic Committee to the meeting titled “Mexico on the Path of T-MEC Review and the Impact of Tariffs.” The purpose was to analyze the challenges and opportunities that will shape the T-MEC review in 2026.
Key Speakers and Their Perspectives
Sergio E. Contreras, CEO of Comce, emphasized the strategic importance of the region and highlighted the need for a shared vision. He pointed out that T-MEC accounts for approximately 30% of the global GDP, $1.93 trillion in regional trade, 37% growth in North American trade compared to 2020, and a 23% increase in regional FDI compared to the previous year. He urged Mexico, the US, and Canada to adopt a common vision to expand the opportunities built over three decades of integration.
Roberta S. Jacobson, former US Ambassador and founding partner of Dinámica Américas, explained that the T-MEC review is crucial in defining the region’s direction. She stressed that Mexico should leverage its institutional features within bilateral relations to navigate a complex environment and ensure a stable relationship. Moreover, she highlighted Mexico’s importance for the US’s global competitiveness.
Kenneth Smith, President of the Mexico-US Bilateral Committee at Comce, stated that Mexico should maintain a firm stance against tariff pressures, remembering it’s the primary destination for US exports. He also emphasized that technical clarity and response capacity will be decisive in the review.
From the energy sector, Juan Acra, President of the Mexican Energy Council, pointed out that the region requires an integral policy to strengthen energy security and secure infrastructure investments. In the legal field, Mario Valencia, partner at Galicia Abogados, specified that the T-MEC review will be a technical process to verify compliance with environmental, energy, and labor commitments.
Sector-Specific Insights
Antonio Ortiz Mena, President of the T-MEC Committee at Comce, asserted that North America has conditions to advance towards self-sufficiency in steel and aluminum through increased trilateral coordination.
Armando Ortega, President of the Mexico-Canada Bilateral Committee at Comce, emphasized the strategic context of proposing a Chapter on Critical Minerals to ensure the regional supply chain, vital for supporting energy transition, AI, high technology, and national security-related technology.
The automotive sector highlighted Mexico’s position. Francisco González Díaz, CEO of the Mexican National Auto Parts Industry (INA), stressed that Mexico plays a strategic role as an indispensable supplier for US automakers, which should reflect in the negotiation strategy.
International Perspective
Juan Pablo Cervantes Sánchez, President of Comce’s International Section for North America, addressed that regional competitiveness depends on deepening integration and establishing a common agenda to transform the T-MEC review into a structural opportunity for North America.
Government Perspective
Ismael Ortiz, head of the Global Economic Intelligence Unit at Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy, affirmed that Mexico approaches the review strengthened by its industrial capacity, innovation ecosystem, and competitive talent, factors that enable the process to be an opportunity for reinforcing trade certainty and justice.
Notable Attendees
The event featured notable attendees, including Jose Medina Mora, President of the Coordinating Business Council; Valeria Moy, General Director of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO); Fausto Gurrea, Consejo Mexicano de Negocios; Alonso Pedrero, Finances Director of Puerto Verde; Alejandra Estrada Chacón, Monex representative; Alejandra Bourillón, AAADAM Secretary; Beatriz Leycegui, SAI Derecho & Economía partner; and representatives from the Latin American Customs Brokers Confederation (CLAA), whose contributions complemented the presented vision.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is the main topic of discussion at the Comce forum?
- Q: Who are the key speakers at the forum, and what are their perspectives?
- Q: How do the speakers view Mexico’s role in the T-MEC review process?
A: The main topic is the T-MEC review and its impact on tariffs, with a focus on shaping opportunities for North American integration.
A: Key speakers include Sergio E. Contreras, Roberta S. Jacobson, Kenneth Smith, Juan Acra, Mario Valencia, Antonio Ortiz Mena, Armando Ortega, and Francisco González Díaz. Their perspectives cover strategic regional importance, institutional leverage, sector-specific advancements, and international collaboration.
A: Speakers emphasize Mexico’s strategic importance, the need for a shared vision with the US and Canada, and its role in ensuring stable relationships while maintaining a firm stance against tariff pressures.
