July 22, 2026

Statement from Luis A. Rodriguez
President & CEO, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognizes the U.S. Administration's decision not to extend the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during its first six-year review, a decision that initiates the agreement's formal annual review process among the United States, Mexico, and Canada. While the agreement remains in effect, the decision starts a period of heightened uncertainty unless the three countries reach agreement on changes that extend the framework and preserve its benefits. For businesses that make investment, workforce, supply chain, and expansion decisions years in advance, the need for clarity is immediate and consequential.



These negotiations will have practical policy impacts on economic development, small businesses, employers, workers, and communities across Texas. USMCA's trilateral structure, tariff-free access, and enforceable rules have provided a foundation for North American trade and investment. Maintaining that certainty is essential for companies planning five, ten, or even twenty years into the future.

San Antonio holds a unique place in the history of North American trade. On October 7, 1992, the final draft of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the predecessor to USMCA, was formally initialed in our city in the presence of U.S. President George H. W. Bush, Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. That historic gathering reflected San Antonio’s longstanding role as a cultural and economic gateway between the United States and Mexico. More than three decades later, our city continues to understand firsthand how strong and reliable North American trade relationships support jobs, attract investment, strengthen supply chains, and create economic opportunity throughout Texas and our region.

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has consistently championed policies that strengthen North American trade through our formal support of USMCA, trade missions to Mexico, engagement with federal policymakers, and recommendations submitted during the agreement's review process. We believe a modern, competitive, and predictable trade framework is essential to the continued success of businesses on both sides of our borders.

Trade with Mexico and Canada remains fundamental to Texas' economy. Texas is the nation's leading exporting state, exporting more than $450 billion in goods annually and supporting an estimated 1.1 million jobs through international trade. Mexico continues to be Texas' largest export market, while the San Antonio metropolitan area exported nearly $12 billion in goods to Mexico and Canada last year. These figures reflect not only the strength of our regional economy, but also the deep economic ties that connect our communities across North America.

While negotiations continue, the SAHCC wants to underscore both the importance and urgency of moving forward. The United States, Mexico, and Canada have not yet reached an agreement to extend the trade framework. U.S. and Mexican officials recently completed a third round of talks and are expected to meet again in Washington in early September. 

Key issues remain unresolved, including: 

• Proposed changes to automotive rules of origin
• Mexico’s request for relief from U.S. Section 232 tariffs on automobile steel, and aluminum
• Concerns around access to Mexico’s electricity market

As discussions continue, we urge all three partners to remain engaged in dialogue that preserves certainty for businesses and strengthens North America’s long-term competitiveness. Stable trade policies foster innovation, strengthen supply chains, support small businesses, and give employers the confidence to create jobs and expand opportunity across our region. The longer the review continues without an extension agreement, the greater the uncertainty becomes for businesses making long-term decisions about investment, manufacturing, sourcing, and supply chains, particularly for Texas companies whose operations, customers, suppliers, and workforce needs are deeply connected to North American trade.

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce remains committed to working alongside elected officials, business leaders, and our partners throughout North America to advance policies that strengthen cross-border commerce, workforce competitiveness, economic security, and the free flow of goods and services.

Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient North American economy that benefits businesses, workers, and communities for generations to come.