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MBN USA

November 21, 2023

The weeklong trade mission helped expand the reach of U.S. businesses in Mexico

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its inaugural U.S. – Mexico Trade Mission in Mexico City and Guadalajara. We give a special thanks to our Trade Mission Co-Chairs Victor Arias Jr. and Raul Salinas who represented the USHCC Board of Directors.

The weeklong trade mission represented a unique opportunity to establish and expand the reach of businesses in Mexico, America’s current top trading partner. Focusing on serving American businesses of underserved communities, the delegation consisted of business owners, representatives of chambers of commerce and business associations, and government officials.

On behalf of the USHCC Board of Directors and team, we thank all of our hosts and guests who were able to join us. Transnational initiatives to fully implement the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) will help pave the way for a more interconnected and economically vibrant future in North America!

Event Highlights

Mexico City

Our USHCC delegation was greeted with a welcome dinner upon arrival to Mexico City. On day two, we joined U.S. Embassy Mexico City staff for a working breakfast that included a country briefing. This was followed by meetings with the Mexican government's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and the Secretariat of the Economy. That evening, United States Ambassador Ken Salazar hosted us for a reception at his residence.

Key national leaders from across Mexico's business spectrum gathered with us for breakfast the next day. Later, we met with the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, and that evening, we were grateful to host the opening ceremony for the USHCC's new Mexico office.

Guadalajara

After a day of travel, we landed in Guadalajara and headed straight to a reception at the Universidad de Guadalajara with business and academic leaders. The next day we attended numerous meetings: one with State of Jalisco Economic Development Officials and another with congressional leaders led by Deputy Laura Gabriela Cárdenas Rodríguez, Chairperson of the Committee on Competitiveness, Economic Development, Innovation, and Jobs.

This was followed by a lunch meeting and manufacturing tour of La Favorita, Coca Cola's historic bottling plant, and then a meeting and tour at Ciudad Creativa Digital. A Government of Jalisco Delegation Reception hosted by Governor Enrique Alfaro closed out our final evening of business activities.

The next day we joined the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce for a working breakfast meeting. And we later connected with the Guadalajara Tourism Bureau for a guided tour of the Centro Histórico. We completed our weeklong trip with a Día de Muertos Tour in neighboring Tlaquepaque.

Key Takeaways

1) Market Reach: Mexico and Latin America offer a diverse market with a growing middle class, ideal for U.S. businesses looking to expand their customer base. Small- and medium-sized companies also stand to gain increased access to goods and service producers in Mexico.

2) Supply Chain Diversification & Nearshoring: U.S. businesses can enhance supply chain resilience and decrease supplier dependence by collaborating with distributors and manufacturers in Mexico and Latin America while nearshoring—outsourcing to companies in a nearby country—and scaling their business operations.

3) Natural Resources & Sustainability: Mexico is rich in natural resources, including oil, minerals, and agricultural products, and is increasingly investing in renewable energy and sustainability initiatives. U.S. businesses can find valuable partners for manufacturing opportunities and trade.

4) Growing Labor Force & Talent: The booming economic landscape in Mexico offers cost-effective labor and a talented and eager workforce, facilitating cross-border business expansion for U.S. companies.