As North America approaches the 2026 review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), the region faces both opportunity and urgency. Chapter 19 (Digital Trade), which is a pioneering component of the USMCA, established one of the most advanced frameworks for governing digital commerce among major economies. It set rules for cross-border data flows, privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, helping to shape how businesses, consumers, and governments interact in an increasingly digital world. Yet, as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services evolve at unprecedented speed, frameworks must also evolve to ensure that their principles of openness, trust, and fairness continue to support innovation, inclusion, and regional competitiveness.
The USMCA Chapter 19 Digital Trade: Executive Report and 2026 Review Outlook — an initiative of the Mexico Program at the Inter-American Dialogue — presents concrete policy recommendations to strengthen Chapter 19 of the USMCA (Digital Trade) and promote a more integrated and inclusive digital economy across North America. Developed in collaboration with leaders and experts from both sides of the border from the private sector, academia, think tanks, and civil society, this report highlights pathways for collaboration that ensure innovation serves a stronger, more integrated region.
Join us virtually on Thursday, November 20, from 10:00 AM – 12:10 PM ET, for the official launch of the Executive Report and Policy Recommendations. The event will feature the report’s authors in two panels, offering perspectives on how the region can build a forward-looking digital agenda.
Follow this event on X (formerly Twitter) at @The_Dialogue.
This event will be held in English.
OPENING REMARKS
LILA ABED
Program Director, Mexico, Inter-American Dialogue (@lilaabed)
Panel I: Strengthening North America’s Digital Trade: Modernizing USMCA Chapter 19 and Empowering SMEs
MODERATOR
YOLANDA MARTÍNEZ
Practice Manager for Digital Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank Group
SPEAKERS
SISSI DE LA PEÑA
General Director, The Dot Network & Director, Mexico Chapter GASA and author of Chapter I: Strengthening and Modernizing the USMCA Digital Chapter (@sissimpm)
JAMIE TRONNES
Executive Director, Center for North American Prosperity and Security, Macdonald Laurier Institute, and author of Chapter I: Strengthening and Modernizing the USMCA Digital Chapter
SOFÍA PÉREZ GASQUE
National Director, Mexican Association of the Information Technology Industry (AMITI) and author of Chapter II: Digital Inclusion for SMEs (@SofiaPerezGM)
Panel II: A Secure and Connected North America: AI Governance, Cybersecurity, and Digital Infrastructure for 2026
MODERATOR
CLAUDIA DEL POZO
Founder and Director, Eon Institute (claudiamdelpozo) and Author of the Foreword
SPEAKERS
KELLEE WICKER
Vice-President, Center for Technology, Innovation, and Space, Meridian International Center, and author of Chapter III: AI Governance and Cybersecurity in North America (@kelleewicker)
PABLO PRUNEDA
Coordinator, Law and Artificial Intelligence Research Line (LIDIA) of the Legal Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Executive Director at Siglo XXII Derecho y Tecnología, and author of Chapter III: AI Governance and Cybersecurity in North America (@Pruneda_Pablo)
ELENA ESTAVILLO
Founder and CEO, Centro-i para la Sociedad del Futuro and author of Chapter IV: Mexico’s Evolving Digital Regulatory Landscape and the USMCA Digital Agenda (@elenaestavillo)
ALEJANDRO NAVARRETE
Former Head of the Radio Spectrum Unit, Federal Telecommunications Institute, and author of Chapter V: Telecommunications and Cross-border Connectivity