Pathways for Trade 2026 will bring together North American industry and trade leaders in Laredo

With the goal of analyzing the evolution of North American supply chains and creating new connections among companies, institutions and specialists, the 33rd edition of Pathways for Trade: The North American Logistics & Manufacturing Symposium will take place from September 22 to 24 in Laredo, Texas.

Organized by the Laredo Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), the event will be centered on the theme “Connecting the Americas: Infrastructure, Industry, Innovation,” an approach aimed at putting into perspective the role that infrastructure, industry and innovation play in strengthening the region’s commercial and productive activity. According to David A. Steadman, CEO of LEDC, the symposium comes at a time of transformation for supply chains, making it an opportunity to bring together specialists from different sectors to examine current conditions and future opportunities.

“We are at a crossroads of trade and transformation,” Steadman explained in an interview with Mexico Industry, noting that the event seeks to provide participants with information and perspectives from experts directly involved in international trade, logistics, manufacturing and trade policy.

For her part, Alma Acevedo, President of Global Tooling Specialties, a member of the Laredo EDC Board of Directors and President of Pathways for Trade, explained that the event has evolved considerably since its first edition. It originally emerged as a platform for the maquiladora industry in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo to address issues relevant to their operations; today, it has become a space for networking, exchanging best practices and building connections among different sectors linked to international trade.

The 2026 edition is expected to attract nearly 300 attendees and 18 exhibitors, with representatives from sectors including logistics, manufacturing, international trade, infrastructure, technology and economic development. One issue that will receive particular attention is workforce development, due to the need for companies to have the capabilities required to respond to the technological and operational transformation of their industries.

The agenda will also include a panel focused on the USMCA/T-MEC, as well as sessions related to trade, infrastructure and supply chains. Participants include representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Medline Industries, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, and companies involved in logistics and electric mobility, among other specialists.

Another highlight of this year’s edition will be the participation of Ilvin Mendoza Carrasco, Head of Intelligence and Territorial Analysis at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Dominican Republic, who will address the topic “Turning Connectivity into Growth: Leveraging Trade and Economic Potential for Regional Development.” His participation will broaden the conversation toward the Caribbean and provide an opportunity to examine experiences related to connectivity, trade and regional development.

For Steadman, Laredo’s position represents an opportunity that extends beyond the movement of goods. The LEDC CEO believes that trade flows can serve as a platform for developing higher value-added activities, including assembly, finishing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, repair, supplier operations, technology and professional services.

“We should not be satisfied with simply moving goods through Laredo,” Steadman said, raising the possibility that the city could evolve from being a trade gateway into an engine for growth for Laredo and the region.

The relationship with Mexico will be another central component of the event. Laredo maintains a close commercial connection with Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Colombia, Nuevo León, and LEDC works with stakeholders in both states on initiatives aimed at regional economic development. In this regard, Pathways for Trade seeks to provide a space to strengthen dialogue and opportunities for binational collaboration.

In addition to conferences and panels, the program will include networking activities, meeting spaces and a Night of Trade, during which the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade at Texas A&M International University and the Global Logistics Center at Laredo College will be recognized as 2026 Pathways for Trade Ambassadors for their contribution to developing talent for international trade.

After 33 editions, Pathways for Trade is preparing once again to bring together representatives from the public, private and academic sectors around an agenda focused on identifying opportunities to strengthen supply chains and North American economic integration. The symposium will take place from September 22 to 24 at PEG Energy Stadium and the Texas A&M International University Student Center in Laredo, Texas.