Fulbright Canada and the Center for U.S. - Mexican Studies at the University of California at San Diego co-hosted a one-day scholarly conference entitled “From NAFTA to USMCA: The New Deal and What it is Missing.” The conference examined the NAFTA negotiations and the proposed trade deal from a range of perspectives, looking at the deal itself and the potential social, political, and economic impact for Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Dr. Michael Hawes, CEO Fulbright Canada, noted that “this conference could not be more timely, reflecting a very significant interest in the terms of the proposed deal, in its impact on each of the three countries, and on the prospects for ratification”.
Fulbright Canada alumna Dr. Jacqueline Krikorian, a lawyer and political science professor from York University, focused her remarks on perspectives from sub-national actors, and, in particular, provincial governments. She was pleased that “the conference was attended by both trade specialists and interested observers”. She noted that “it was unique in the sense that it brought speakers from Canada, the United States, and Mexico together to discuss not only the agreement and its implications, but also the political strategies that underpinned the negotiations.”
The mandate of Fulbright Canada includes support for balanced discussions on important national and international issues, and recognizes that trade relations between the United States and its two closest neighbors is of paramount importance for all three countries. Partnerships with U.S. universities are also a key element of the Fulbright Canada strategic plan and critical to our role in encouraging mutual understanding and supporting both academic research and community engagement.
We were especially pleased that several Fulbright Canada alumni presented:
Dr. Michael Hawes, CEO, Fulbright Canada (Fulbright Distinguished Research Chair in Foreign Policy and Canadian Studies, UC Berkeley, 1999-2000)
Dr. Lesley A. Jacobs, York University (Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Canada-U.S. Relations, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 2015-2016)
Dr. Jacqueline Krikorian, York University (Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Canada-U.S. Relations, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 2014-2015)
Dr. Brian Stevenson, President Emeritus, Lakehead University (Fulbright Canada Research Chair and fellow at the Center for U.S.- Mexican Studies, UC San Diego, 2018-2019)
Program:
Opening Remarks
Rafael Fernández de Castro, Director, Center for U.S.- Mexican Studies, UC San Diego
Michael Hawes, CEO, Fulbright Canada, and alumni
From NAFTA to USMCA: Gains and Losses
Beatriz Leycegui Gardoqui, SAI Derecho & Economía
Paola Avila, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Michael Hawes, CEO, Fulbright Canada, and alumni
Keynote Address
Jesús Seade, President López Obrador’s chief negotiator for trade
The Role of Subnational Governmental Actors
Jacqueline Krikorian, York University
Fernando Salmeron, CIESAS
Indigenous People and USMCA
Les Jacobs, York University
Brian Stevenson, Fellow, Center for U.S.- Mexican Studies, UC San Diego
This conference is reflective of a growing partnership between Fulbright Canada the Center for U.S.- Mexican Studies at the University of California San Diego.