Port of Eagle Pass 2023 Trade Summit Draws Texas-Mexico Leaders and Trade Growth
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The Port of Eagle Pass 2023 Trade Summit held on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade drew a record 450 attendees and featured distinguished speakers such as Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Commissioners Alvin New and Alejandro “Alex” G. Meade, III, State of Coahuila Secretariat of Economy Claudio Bres Garza, TxDOT Director of Planning and Model Programs Caroline Mays, U. S. Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zone Administrator Camille R. Evans, former United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement Negotiator for Mexico Kenneth Smith Ramos, Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mayor Norma Trevino Galindo, and World City President Ken Roberts.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. welcomed the distinguished speakers and guests to the third annual Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit, highlighting the significant international trade growth of the Port of Eagle Pass in recent years among all of the Land, Sea, and Air Ports of Entries in the United States-rising to No. 34 overall among 450 U.S. Ports of Entries with a total of $34.02 Billion in total exports and imports during 2022.
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson was the first keynote speaker at the Trade Summit, stating this was her first visit to Eagle Pass and was greatly impressed with the record international trade figures handled at the Port of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. Secretary Nelson pledged to work with the cities of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, the State of Coahuila, all state and federal agencies, and businesses to support the current and future projected growth of international trade through the Port of Eagle Pass, benefitting the Texas and Mexican economies.
World City President Ken Roberts and Vice-President Tatiana Panzandi presented the State of the Port of Eagle Pass during 2022 and current 2023 figures to date, citing an increase of 0.57 percent increase in total trade compared to the record 2021 figures-totaling $34.02 Billion. Roberts and Panzandi noted that exports increased 3.70 percent to a record $10.87 Billion while imports slightly fell by 0.84 percent to $23.14 Billion. Roberts and Panzandi added the Port of Eagle Pass is ranked No. 34 overall among all U.S. Ports of Entries.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Director of Planning and Model Programs Caroline Mays presented her key findings during recent trade missions to the State of Coahuila and Mexico in a panel discussion with Ken Roberts, highlighting the exponential growth of American and multi-national corporations manufacturing in the State of Coahuila and expected trade boom between the U.S. and Mexico in the near future.
A panel discussion featuring Camille R. Evans, U. S. Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zone Administrator, and Lauren Garduno, Chief Executive Officer at Ports-to-Plains Alliance highlighted the benefits of foreign trade zones and anticipated growth between U.S. and Mexico trade.
Former U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement negotiator for Mexico, Kenneth Smith Ramos, presented his experience as a negotiator of the USMCA Trade Agreement and pointed key issues to look for as the USMCA Trade Agreement becomes fully operational in 2026 in a panel discussion moderated by Ken Roberts.
State of Coahuila Secretariat of Economy Claudio Bres Garza addressed the Trade Summit audience and stated the expected trade impact between the U.S. and Mexico will quadruple by 2050, only 22 years away, and the urgent need for both countries, states (Texas-Coahuila), and cities (Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras) to plan, develop, and construct the transportation and business infrastructure required to handle such a large increase in international trade in such a short period of time.
Eagle Pass International Bridge System General Manager Homero Balderas closed the Port of Eagle Pass 2023 Trade Summit, stating the rapid growth of the trade summit and the international trade figures requires all governments, agencies, trade stakeholders, and communities to prepare for the exponential growth of U.S.-Mexico international trade at the Port of Eagle Pass.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., Interim City Manager Ivan Morua, Homero Balderas, and Marketing Director Aide Castano presented awards to the keynote speakers and corporate sponsors of the trade summit. A networking reception was held following the trade summit.
