May 4, 2017

Congressmembers Filemon Vela (D-TX) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) toured our border and met with the Chamber on April 20th. The visit provided the opportunity for a fruitful discussion on needed advocacy and outreach to policy makers distant from the border region, yet who impact trade, tourism and economic development.

May 4, 2017

On April 28, 2017, our local Consul General, Marcela Celorio, was named Ambassador by President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto. The move reinforces efforts to strengthen Mexican Foreign Service and diplomacy. We congratulate Ambassador Celorio on a very well deserved promotion which solidifies the reputation she has earned in our region as a leader and advocate for the community and the economy. Our region is fortunate to have her and we look forward to continuing our strong collaboration with her as we have much more work to do.

More on the appointment: http://www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/el-gobierno-de-la-republica-reconoce-y-fortalece-la-diplomacia-mexicana

May 4, 2017

On May 2, 2017, the California Senate’s Select Committee on California-Mexico Cooperation chaired by Senator Ben Hueso, held a dialogue between select committee members, experts, and stakeholders over the challenges and opportunities we face at the state level given the uncertainty of changes in federal trade and commerce policies.

Chamber VP, Paola Avila presented on the supply chain advantages offered by NAFTA during this session of “The Future of the North American Economic Partnership with Mexico.” Other speakers included:

Michael Camuñez, President, Manatt Jones Global Strategies, LLC; Francisco Tovar, Hispanic Affairs Coordinator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Fernando Sepulveda, CEO, Impulsa Business Accelerator and Member of the Mexican Entrepreneur Association

Video clip of the hearing: http://vod.senate.ca.gov/videos/2017/20170502_SelMexicoCooperation_high.mp4

May 4, 2017

On April 17, 2017, Alex Hinojosa, the former Deputy Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADB), was named by the Board to serve as Acting Managing Director to replace Gerónimo Gutiérrez, who was recently appointed Ambassador of Mexico to the United States. Dr. Calixto Mateos, the former Director of Risk Management and Control for NADB, has been named Acting Deputy Managing Director. We were pleased to have Mr. Mateos join us at the Chamber’s Congressional Luncheon last month.

Read the full press release here.

May 4, 2017

In April, an executive order to review the H-1B visa program was issued. This offers an opportunity for the business community to voice our opinion and provide input. H-1B visas are an important tool for businesses to hire the talented workforce necessary to grow their companies and compete on a global scale. This visa program is often utilized to retain existing talent residing in the U.S. who attend our local universities.

Read the executive order here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/18/presidential-executive-order-buy-american-and-hire-american

May 4, 2017

The Chamber is proud to sponsor a state bill authored by Senator Hueso which would establish a California trade office in Mexico City. Given the uncertainty at the federal level regarding the United States’ trading partnership with Mexico, it is vital that California and Mexico maintain open and ongoing discussions about economic opportunities. Through this effort, we can reassure both our civic and business leaders that we value robust trade and open dialogue with each other. By opening a trade and investment office in the commercial and political capital of Mexico, SB 357 would strengthen the California and Mexico economies and contribute to the prosperity of both of the American and Mexican people.

The bill has cleared its first hurdle in the legislative process receiving unanimous approval in the Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee on April 24.

Call to Action: Please add your signature and logo to our letter (download here) or submit your individual letter of support. For more on SB 357, view the fact sheet.

May 4, 2017

NAFTA

The recent report of a draft Executive Order withdrawing from NAFTA sparked great concern within the San Diego business community. While the Chamber agrees that NAFTA is due for an update, exiting the agreement is a threat to thousands of local jobs dependent on trade and would severely impair our region’s global competitiveness. The Chamber expressed opposition to the withdrawal order to key Congressional offices providing specific data on industries and jobs at risk.

Late Wednesday, April 26^th, the White House released a statement announcing the President has agreed not to terminate NAFTA and would revert back to the process of renegotiation. We applaud the President’s swift action working with the leaders of our neighboring countries and main trading partners and his response to business advocates. We are in full support of the administration’s immediate engagement in renegotiations. There remains much work to do leading up to the renegotiation as much is at risk for our members. The Chamber continues its advocacy efforts and encourages our members to remain engaged on this topic.

Trade Agreement Review and Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy

Following the NAFTA statement, on Saturday, April 29^th, two new executive orders were announced – one to review the existing U.S. trade agreements and the other to establish a new White House “Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy” (OTMP). The agreements review will be submitted to the president within 180 days. The OTMP will serve as a liaison between the White House and Department of Commerce to present innovative strategies and “to defend and serve American workers and domestic manufacturers while advising the president on policies to increase economic growth, decrease the trade deficit, and strengthen the United States manufacturing and defense industrial bases.”

Related links:

Chamber President and CEO Jerry Sanders spoke with KPBS about the threat of withdrawal from NAFTA Trump Says U.S. Will Not Leave NAFTA — For Now | KPBS

U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue made a strong pro-NAFTA speech in Mexico (remarks here and a summary blog here).