DETAILS OF THE VISIT TO WASHINGTON, D.C

Kicked off our program at Forward Global with Noe Garcia III & Leah Charette, who broke down the U.S. legislative branch and talked about tariffs—especially within USMCA. We wrapped up with great conversations at a networking cocktail! We started the day at Meridian International Center, where Hana Hausnerova & Alice Slayton Clark (USCIB) shared insights on U.S.–Mexico collaboration in global leadership, trade, investment, and digital policy.

Our first workshop focused on how the private sector can drive and deepen U.S.–Mexico relations, with Ernesto Acevedo (EMBAMEX) and Sergio Gómez Lora (CCE) sharing perspectives on trade, investment, and economic integration. The cohort heard from Narrative Strategies on U.S. public opinion toward Mexico and explored how Mexicans can shape a stronger, more positive narrative to foster better perceptions among American voters.

We had the pleasure of hearing from Professor Marc L. Busch (Georgetown), who discussed current U.S. government affairs and their impact on Mexico, North America, and the broader global landscape. To close our first day of meetings and lectures, we were welcomed by Mexico’s Ambassador to the U.S., Esteban Moctezuma Barragán and his wife, Cecilia, for a dinner at the Mexican Residence.

The cohort began Day 2 at Amazon HQ, learning about Project Kuiper—an internet satellite initiative to provide low-cost connectivity—the importance of lowering credit card/digital payment fees, and Amazon’s support for SMEs. We then met with Jim Markwardt and Liliana Diaz at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) for an in-depth discussion on key priorities for U.S.–Mexico cooperation, including regional security collaboration, energy integration, and strategies for supply chain diversification and nearshoring to strengthen North America’s competitiveness.

We visited Marcela Escobari and Mayra Maldonado at The Brookings Institution to discuss migration and U.S.–Mexico collaboration on the issue, while the cohort also learned about key border trade metrics and the infrastructure needs that shape cross-border commerce. The cohort met with Charles Rivkin President of the Motion Picture Association for a conversation on the value of film productions in Mexico, the cultural reach and opportunities that cinema provides globally, and the importance of regulation, fighting piracy, and preventing platforms that harm both the industry and consumers.

To close our program, we had an insightful conversation with John Sullivan and Johnnie Kaberle of Partnership for a Secure America on negotiation tactics and how to reach agreements that generate benefits for the entire region.

Programs like these strengthen the ties between our countries by fostering education, dialogue, and understanding. By bringing together leaders from across the Mexican political spectrum, we not only showcase how Americans think and act—and why—but also create spaces to build common ground for collaboration. A heartfelt thank you to our partners, and above all to our delegates, for making the second edition of Convocation: Congress such an inspiring success.

We thank Fundación Coppel, MetLife, Emant Consultores, Devon Energy and Vaquero Trading for their support.