TheHill • December 28 2018

US, Mexico defy expectations by cooperating on immigration

Mexico and the United States are defying expectations by identifying ways to cooperate on the contentious issues surrounding migration.

Since Mexico’s new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), took office on Dec. 1, U.S. and Mexican officials have hammered out a dual-track approach to tackling the flow and management of migrants heading northward from Central America to Mexico and the United States.

One track is a cooperative multi-year strategy designed to help keep potential migrant

Pulse News Mexico • December 15 2018

Narcos: Transnational Cartels and Border Security

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

Cooperation between Mexico and the United States regarding transnational crime is vital for the wellbeing of both countries. Both societies pay a high price for the illegal traffic in drugs, money, guns and people that cross our common border. The effective and efficient operation of the border itself is vital for the $1 million a minute of commerce between the

Pulse News Mexico • December 14 2018

The Time to Build Lasting Bonds Between the US and Mexico is Now

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

The moment is ripe for the United States to double down on efforts to build a stronger relationship with Mexico for the longer term. Serious short-term problems need to be managed in a way that solidifies cooperation for the years ahead.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, Mexico’s new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), took office for a six-year term. He also no

TheHill • November 29 2018

The time to build lasting bonds between US and Mexico is now

The moment is ripe for the United States to double down on efforts to build a stronger relationship with Mexico for the longer term. Serious short-term problems need to be managed in a way that solidifies cooperation for the years ahead.

On Saturday, Mexico’s new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), takes office for six years. He will also control both chambers of Mexico’s Congress. AMLO wants to focus on the “transformation” of Mexico, and major domestic reforms are the top priorities

CSIS • November 26 2018

Afghanistan: Praiseworthy Economic Reforms, But Path to Peace Offers the Big Dividend

International donors will convene in Geneva in late November to discuss the social and economic progress made in Afghanistan since the Brussels Donor Conference in 2016. The economic advances made by the Afghan government give donors reasons to be pleased about the results from their pledge to provide $15 billion in assistance through 2020, conditional on the government making progress on the reform program agreed upon in Brussels. In Geneva, donors should praise the reforms made while making cl

Pulse News Mexico • November 21 2018

US Spotlight Fixed Squarely on AMLO as He Prepares to Take Reins in Mexico

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

On Dec. 1, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) will be sworn in as Mexico’s president. AMLO’s presidency will have important ramifications for the United States.

Through trade, travel, heritage and history, U.S.-Mexico relations touch the daily lives of more American citizens than ties with any other country. The two countries trade over $1 million a minute, ha

The National Interest • November 19 2018

Afghanistan Is Making Economic Progress but Needs Peace

International donors will have some good news when they gather to review Afghanistan’s economic progress on November 27–28 in Geneva. While peace prospects , Taliban attacks , and Afghanistan’s unsettled politics will be on everyone’s mind, donors can applaud positive reviews of Afghan performance from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as welcome steps.

Afghanistan’s partners should still make clear, however, that continued aid depends on continued reform. Donor governmen

TheHill • November 6 2018

US spotlight fixed squarely on AMLO as he takes reins in Mexico

On Dec. 1, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) will be sworn in as Mexico’s president. AMLO’s presidency will have important ramifications for the United States.

Through trade, travel, heritage and history, U.S.-Mexico relations touch the daily lives of more American citizens than ties with any other country. The two countries trade over $1 million a minute, have over $100 billion in mutual investment and share a million border crossings a day.

AMLO promises a historic “transformation,” with wi

Pulse News Mexico • November 6 2018

Central American Caravan Crisis Is a Chance to Forge a Better US Immigration Policy

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for neighboring governments to stop the most recent migrant caravan heading to the United States from Central America highlight the pressing need for a regionwide strategy to deal with migration flows.

With the current caravan, the government of Mexico is caught between the forceful U.S. requests for action and portions of

TheHill • October 23 2018

Caravan 'crisis' a chance to forge better immigration policy

President Trump Donald John TrumpTrump to fundraise for 3 Republicans running for open seats: report Trump to nominate former Monsanto exec to top Interior position White House aides hadn’t heard of Trump's new tax cut: report MORE’s demands for neighboring governments to stop the most recent migrant caravan heading to the U.S. from Central America highlight the pressing need for a region-wide strategy to deal with migration flows.

With the current caravan, the government of Mexico is caught be

Pulse News Mexico • October 17 2018

If Approved, the New NAFTA Will End the Tyranny of Uncertainty

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a welcome step.

If approved by each country’s legislature, the agreement will dissolve the uncertainty that has hovered over North America’s commercial and production networks for the last two years. A new rules-based agreement can be a major plus for the $1.2 trillion continental market.

It is very important no

Pulse News Mexico • October 11 2018

Special Envoys, ‘Silos’ and Coherent International Policy

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently appointed four special envoys to help him manage high priority portfolios regarding Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and North Korea. His actions are understandable and can yield valuable results, if implemented well. The nomination and confirmation process for senior State Department positions in Washington and overseas has been terribly slow

TheHill • October 3 2018

New NAFTA will end the tyranny of uncertainty if approved

The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a welcome step.

If approved by each country’s legislature, the agreement will dissolve the uncertainty that has hovered over North America’s commercial and production networks for the last two years. A new rules-based agreement can be a major plus for the 1.2 trillion dollar continental market.

It is very important now, however, to have good assessments of the potential results that will flow from the agreement. While President Trump lauds the po

Wilson Center • September 27 2018

Special Envoys, “Silos” and Coherent International Policy

Secretary of State Pompeo recently appointed four special envoys to help him manage high priority portfolios regarding Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and North Korea. His actions are understandable and can yield valuable results, if implemented well.  The nomination and confirmation process for senior State Department positions in Washington and overseas has been terribly slow, yet the world has not slowed.

Pulse News Mexico • September 20 2018

9 Million Reasons for the US to Get a Trade Deal Done with Canada

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

As U.S. and Canadian officials resumed trade negotiations in Washington earlier this month, it is vital to realize that the United States gains massively from its economic relationship with Canada.

Ending the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and moving ahead with only a new U.S.-Mexico trade agreement, as the White House has threatened to do, would damage the Unit

Pulse News Mexico • September 18 2018

Argentina Deserves US, IMF Support along Rough Road to Recovery

Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.

Argentina faces a new economic storm in the midst of extraordinary efforts to restructure its economy and to move against ingrained corruption.

Argentina itself must take and implement the hard decisions to succeed on both fronts, but it deserves strong support from its international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United States

The Hill • September 6 2018

9 million reasons to get a trade deal done with Canada

As U.S. and Canadian officials resume trade negotiations in Washington, it is vital to realize that the United States gains massively from its economic relationship with Canada.

Ending the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and moving ahead with only a new U.S.-Mexico trade agreement, as the White House has threatened, would damage the U.S. and Canada. Compared to what is at stake for the United States, the remaining U.S.-Canada trade differences are small and resolvable.

The Hill • September 4 2018

Argentina deserves US, IMF support on rough road to recovery

Argentina faces a new economic storm in the midst of extraordinary efforts to restructure its economy and to move against ingrained corruption.

Argentina itself must take and implement the hard decisions to succeed on both fronts, but it deserves strong support from its international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United States and the investment community, as it strives to achieve these laudable goals.

TheHill • August 29 2018

US-Mexico deal means very little without Canada

The “preliminary agreement in principle” between Mexico and the United States is an important step forward in the effort to agree on a modernized trade agreement in North America.

It is important to recognize, however, that the bilateral U.S.-Mexico agreement is not a good substitute for a trilateral agreement that brings in Canada, America’s largest trading partner.

Much work lies ahead to agree upon a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that will significantly benefit the United

Atlantic Council Blog • August 28 2018

Trump's New Trade Agreement: What's In It?

On August 27, US President Donald J. Trump and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced an initial agreement on a new bilateral trade relationship . The negotiations were initially intended to be a start for wider conversations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), including the third treaty partner, Canada. During the announcement, however, Trump implied that he may choose to negotiate bilaterally with Canada instead of reviving the tripartite agreement.

The Hill • August 22 2018

Down the stretch they come: Nations must push to finish NAFTA deal

After a year of tough negotiations, the United States and its neighbors may be nearing agreement on a revised North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Progress in recent weeks between the U.S. and Mexico over the treatment of car manufacturing in a new NAFTA gives reason for hope. Mexico’s trade minister, foreign minister and the special representative of Mexico’s president-elect are back in Washington this week to continue talks.

Atlantic Council • August 15 2018

Can Lowering Trade Barriers Fuel American Energy Exports to Europe?

Momentum is building regarding the trade truce and work plan announced by the United States and the European Union in the July 25 US-EU Joint Statement. US President Donald J. Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker gave special attention to strengthening “strategic cooperation with respect to energy,” adding that the “European Union wants to import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to diversify its energy supply.”

Pulse News Mexico • August 13 2018

Trump-EU Olive Branch Is Laudable First Step in Long Process

U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker agreed late last month to launch discussions on resolving trade disputes, creating new opportunities for market openings and reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The meeting of minds sparked hope that these massive economic partners could move to a positive agenda to build a more prosperous transatlantic marketplace and strengthen international best practices.

There is a lot to be done before we know if the truce announced by Trump and Juncker on tariffs and the new talks will produce successful results.

Atlantic Council • August 6 2018

Non-Tariff Barriers: Can the EU and the United States Make Progress on Trade?

On July 25, the European Union and the United States took an important step in de-escalating the threat of a trade war by agreeing to not only begin walking back US tariffs on European steel and aluminum and Europe’s retaliatory measures, but also by starting to discuss an ambitious forward-looking agenda for reducing trade barriers and expanding trade liberalization in other sectors, such as energy, soybeans, services, and non-tariff barriers (NTBs).The goal of eliminating NTBs is laudable. We