Few bilateral relationships in the world are as closely integrated as that between Mexico and the United States, and few are discussed publicly with such confusion. In 2026, Mexico solidified its position as the United States’ leading trading partner. At the same time, the Mexican economy is growing slowly, and U.S. tariff policy intertwines trade, migration, and security at a single negotiating table. Added to this are other factors straining the relationship: drug trafficking, the treatment of Mexicans in immigration detention (including cases of injury or death), and the oil situation.

Decisions made within this relationship are often based on macroeconomic variables, but their impact is felt very concretely in the lives of people on both sides of the border. This conversation stems from the conviction that understanding the bilateral economic relationship is key to influencing the decisions made on behalf of our communities, decisions in which our communities are rarely consulted or included as participants in the negotiations.

What will we discuss?

• Where we stand: what it means, specifically, for Mexico to be the United States’ main trading partner. Economic issues don’t stand alone: tariffs, migration, security, and remittances are all on the table.
• What the Monroe Doctrine, or “Donroe,” as some Donald Trump supporters call it, means for Mexico.
• What’s next: the review of the USMCA, Mexico’s potential role in multilateral forums such as the BRICS, and the opportunities and threats posed by its trade relationship with China. Can Mexico diversify its markets to reduce its dependence on the United States?

Thursday, September 17, 2026

11:00 a.m. Mexico City and Central America | 10:00 a.m. PT | 12:00 p.m. CT | 1:00 p.m. ET 

Speaker: Carlos Heredia, Mexican economist and researcher.

Moderator: Óscar Chacón, strategy advisor, Alianza Américas.

Registration: bit.ly/4zN6es1

You can watch the recording of the event here: