Registration
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM ET
Panel 1: The Border from the Congressional Perspective
9:15 PM – 10:00 AM ET
Panel 2: The Future of USMCA and Its Impact on the Border
10:15 PM – 10:55 AM ET
Panel 3: The Triangular Dilemma: Trade, Migration, and Border Security
11:10 PM – 12:00 PM ET
Panel 4: A Smarter Border: Digital Trade, AI, and Trusted Data Flows
12:00 PM – 12:40 PM ET
Lunch & Keynote Address: Mobility at Scale – The World Cup as a Stress Test for North American Movement
12:45 PM – 1:15 PM ET
Panel 5: Critical Infrastructure: Water, Energy, and Border Resilience
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM ET
Please RSVP to receive information about this event
As the United States and Mexico navigate an increasingly complex bilateral agenda—ranging from trade policy and energy transition to migration enforcement and digital innovation—the U.S.-Mexico border remains a critical space for policy coordination, security, and economic development.
Now in its 12th year, the Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border Conference is a high-level, multi-stakeholder forum that brings together legislators, business leaders, policy experts, and civil society actors to shape a forward-looking, cooperative agenda for the region.
This year’s conference will explore the future of cross-border trade and infrastructure, the growing link between migration and security strategies, new dynamics in resource sharing, and the transformative role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Featuring a diverse lineup of speakers from both sides of the border—including members of Congress and private sector executives—this event will offer actionable insights to strengthen North America’s competitiveness and resilience.
This event will be held in-person at the Inter-American Dialogue on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM ET.
Follow this event on X at @MexicoProgram and @The_Dialogue.
Event Co-Organizer
Event Sponsors
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM |
OPENING REMARKS |
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Lila Abed, Director, Mexico Program , Inter-American Dialogue (@lilaabed) |
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Rebecca Bill Chavez, President & CEO Inter-American Dialogue |
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Britton Mullen, President, Border Trade Alliance |
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9:15 AM – 9:55 AM |
PANEL 1: THE BORDER FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE |
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Congress Members to be confirmed |
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10:00 AM – 10:50 AM |
PANEL 2: THE FUTURE OF USMCA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE BORDER |
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| Skip Hulett, Chief Legal Officer, NatureSweet | |||
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Gilberto García Vázquez, Chief Economist, Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab, Johns Hopkins, & Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Mexico Program, The Dialogue (@GilbertoGarciaV) |
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Margaret Myers, Senior Advisor, Asia and Latin America Program, The Dialogue (@MyersMargaret) |
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| Moderator |
Karen Antebi, Director, International Practice Lead, Prime Policy |
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10:50 AM – 11:05 AM |
COFFEE BREAK |
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11:05 AM – 11:55 AM |
PANEL 3: THE TRIANGULAR DILEMMA-TRADE, MIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY |
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| Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, Head North American Observatory, Global Initiative & Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Mexico Program, The Dialogue (@farfan_cc) | |||
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Andrew Selee, President, Migration Policy Institute |
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Noe Garcia, Managing Partner, Forward Global |
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William Walters, Chief Executive Officer, Salus Worldwide |
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12:00 PM – 12:40 PM |
PANEL 4: A SMARTER BORDER – DIGITAL TRADE, AI AND TRUSTED DATA FLOWS |
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Scott Friedman, VP, Government Affairs, Altana Technologies | ||
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Francisco Meré, Founder & CEO, Blooms Trade |
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Allen Gina, President and Co-Founder of CT Strategies |
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Moderator |
Ruben Mancha, Associate Professor & Research Scholar, Babson College |
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12:45 PM – 1:15 PM |
LUNCH |
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1:15 PM – 2:15 PM |
PANEL 5: CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE-WATER, ENERGY AND BORDER RESILIENCE |
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John Beckham, Managing Director, NADBank |
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Carlos Martinez, President, Association of Logistics & Forwarding Agents, Inc. (ALFA) |
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Luke Wilson, Deputy Director, The Center for Water Security and Cooperation |
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Diego Rivera Rivota, Research Associate at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) | ||
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Moderator |
Kenia Zamarripa, Vice President, International and Public Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (@KeniaZamarripaV) |
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2:15 PM – 2:30 PM |
CLOSING REMARKS | ||
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Lila Abed, Director, Mexico Program, Inter-American Dialogue (@lilaabed) |
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Britton Mullen, President, Border Trade Alliance |
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In 2025, the U.S.-Mexico border remains shaped by post-election dynamics, a new Congress, and shifting bilateral priorities. Panelists will explore how Capitol Hill addresses key issues such as funding for border modernization, immigration reform, and the future of binational trade frameworks like the USMCA. Special attention will be given to Congressional approaches to fentanyl trafficking, migrant flows, and critical infrastructure upgrades, including improvements at ports of entry and investments in border technology. Speakers may also reflect on state-level initiatives shaping or challenging federal border policy.
The conversation will provide a unique, high-level window into the bipartisan possibilities for improving U.S.-Mexico border dynamics—emphasizing cross-party collaboration as a foundation for sustainable and inclusive border governance.
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