The Hoover Institution and ITAM hosts The U.S.–Mexico Economic and Security Relationship: Implications for North America conference on April 20th, 2026.
Against the backdrop of upcoming USMCA negotiations, the discussion will examine how alternative policy paths—ranging from partial disintegration to renewed integration—could affect the economies of both the U.S. and Mexico and shape regional security outcomes. While centered on the U.S.–Mexico relationship, the conference will incorporate Canadian perspectives to ensure that these issues are evaluated within the context of North America as an integrated economic and security region.
This conference is by invitation only.
| Monday, April 20th | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Content | Presenters |
|
8:30 AM |
Breakfast |
-- |
|
9:00 AM |
Welcome |
Stephen Haber, Park L. Loughlin Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution & Professor of Political Science, Stanford |
|
9:10 AM |
Session 1 — Feasibility of Integration: Toward a Grand Bargain? What type of arrangement for deepening the relationship between Mexico and the United States—spanning economic and security dimensions—can be viable politically? What would be the contours of a grand bargain between both countries that could be acceptable to both governments and their respective constituencies? |
Panelist: Justin Grimmer, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution & Professor of Political Science, Stanford University Panelist: Arturo Sarukhán, Former Ambassador of Mexico to the US Panelist: José Medina Mora, President of the Mexican Business Council Moderator: Stephen Haber |
|
10:10 AM |
Break |
-- |
| 10:40 AM |
Session 2 — Trade and Investment: Supply Chains, Nearshoring, and Strategic Industry Vulnerability in some supply chains and a lack of production capacity in certain areas are seen as national security priorities in the United States. How can cooperation across Mexico, Canada, and the United States help to ensure that strategic production capacity stays within the region without placing excessive costs on taxpayers? Given excess capacity due to state participation in some economies, the panel will also address the best approaches for managing excess capacity across industries. The session will address two specific sectors: the automotive value chain and metal mining and refining. |
Panelist: Elaine Buckberg, Former Chief Economist, General Motors; Senior Fellow at Harvard's Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability Panelist: Kristin Dziczek, Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Panelist: Timothy Sturgeon, Professor of Business, MIT Panelist: Eugenio Madero, CEO, Rassini Panelist: Alejandro Díaz de León, Corporate Director, Grupo BAL Panelist: Flavio Volpe, President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association Moderator: Ana Aguilar, Executive Director of the Mexican Business Council |
| 12:10 PM |
Lunch |
-- |
| 1:10 PM |
Remarks by Condoleezza Rice |
Condoleezza Rice, Hoover Institution Director and 66th Secretary of State |
| 1:20 PM |
Session 3 — Energy Cooperation: USMCA, Investment, and Energy Security What does a path forward on U.S.–Mexico energy cooperation look like in light of recent |
Panelist: José Antonio González Anaya, Former Minister of Finance of Mexico, Former CEO of PEMEX Panelist: Mario Gabriel Budebo, CEO, México Infrastructure Partners Panelist: Francisco Monaldi, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy, Rice University Panelist: Noel Maurer, Associate Professor of International Affairs and International Business, George Washington University Moderator: David Fedor, Stephenson Policy Fellow, Hoover Institution |
|
2:30 PM |
Break |
-- |
| 3:30 PM |
Session 4 — Security and U.S. Counternarcotics Strategy How effective is the United States' current counternarcotics strategy? The discussion will assess the effectiveness and limits of existing approaches, identify gaps in regional coordination, and consider pathways for increased cooperation between the United States and Mexico. |
Panelist: Jorge Tello, Former Director, National Intelligence Agency of Mexico Panelist: Guillermo Valdés, Former Director, National Intelligence Agency of Mexico Panelist: Philip Zelikow, Former Counselor of the US State Department; Botha-Chan Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution Moderator: HR McMaster, Former US National Security Advisor; Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution |
| 4:00 PM |
Closing remarks |
-- |
| 4:15 PM |
Conclusion of Conference Program |
-- |
| 6:00 PM |
Dinner |
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If you have any questions about the event, contact Hoover Prosperity Program, HooverProsperity@stanford.edu.
