TAMIU's Dr. Covarrubias Addresses North American Trade Integration Challenges at Prestigious D.C. Forum
Dr. Daniel Covarrubias, director of Texas A&M International University's (TAMIU) A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development (TCBEED), was a featured speaker at the first North Capital Meridian Diplomacy Forum held April 23, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The forum was hosted by the U.S.-México Foundation and Meridian International Center in partnership with the Business Council of Canada.
Dr. Covarrubias participated in the "Seamless Trade, Secure Borders: Advancing North American Connectivity" breakout session hosted by the Texas Association of Business and The Hunt Institute.
The panel, moderated by the University of Texas at El Paso Hunt Institute executive director Mayra Maldonado, gathered experts to examine how balancing border security with trade facilitation is essential for regional economic growth and competitiveness. Covarrubias joined fellow panelists Glenn Hamer (president & CEO, Texas Association of Business), Edgar Guillaumin (vice president of Public Affairs U.S., Constellation Brands), and Adriana Eguia (vice president for Northeast Mexico, Vesta, and chair of the Board Tijuana Economic Development Corporation).
"The rapid advancement of exponential technologies offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance cross-border trade efficiency while strengthening security," Covarrubias noted, "A.I., blockchain, and other 'Logistechs' solutions can dramatically reduce processing times and improve transparency across North American supply chains but require a coordinated implementation to realize their full potential."
Covarrubias addressed questions about the upcoming 2026 USMCA review, discussing how to balance trade growth with national security concerns. He presented findings from his latest research, including the February 2025 white paper "The Binational Customs Agency: A Vision for US-México Joint Customs Operations," co-authored with former Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez Fernández and published by the U.S.-México Foundation. His upcoming work on the North American Industrial Policy Council, proposed for inclusion in the USMCA, was also highlighted during the discussions.
The TCBEED's analysis of employment impacts from proposed tariffs across the top 15 states in both the U.S. and México most integrated into North American trade networks was also presented.
“Our research reveals that over 4.3 million jobs in the U.S. and over 5 million jobs in México across major manufacturing and agricultural states face potential exposure to trade disruptions," Dr. Covarrubias explained. "With states like Texas, Michigan, and Ohio showing particularly high vulnerability, we need institutional innovation to integrate security imperatives with trade facilitation better."
The high-profile Forum brought together leaders from government, business, and academia to address critical topics shaping North American relations. The day-long event featured multiple breakout sessions examining trade facilitation, energy cooperation, labor mobility, food security, and manufacturing competitiveness.
Covarrubias is recognized for his expertise in cross-border trade, logistics technology innovation, and North American economic integration. His participation reflects TAMIU's growing influence in continental policy discussions and commitment to addressing the unique challenges of the U.S.-México border region.
For more information about Dr. Covarrubias's work or TAMIU's TCBEED research initiatives, please visit http://texascenter.tamiu.edu, email dcova@tamiu.edu, or call 956.326.2520.
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