Why Are Energy and Manufacturing the Strongest Pillars of the USMCA?

As the USMCA approaches its next review, its future is emerging as an opportunity to strengthen North America's competitiveness through greater industrial, logistics, and energy integration. During the Port Laredo Global Trade Summit, a panel featuring Sergio Chapa, J.D. González, Peter Quinter, and Gustavo Uruchurtu examined how current customs and trade challenges can become strategic advantages through binational collaboration and stronger value chains.

The USMCA Review Promotes Rules of Origin and Regional Sourcing

One of the central topics of the panel "USMCA on the Front Lines: Real World Impact on Port Laredo Trade" was adapting to new rules of origin, tariffs, and provisions designed to strengthen production within the region.

Peter Quinter, a U.S. customs attorney and partner at the law firm Gunster, explained that the new Section 301 guidelines, which take effect August 1 to regulate goods from other markets, create an opportunity for North American companies to ensure cleaner and more transparent processes.

Quinter explained that although compliance with rules of origin, substantial transformation requirements, and export requirements demands stricter controls from exporters in Mexico, it also represents an opportunity to raise quality standards.

"The challenge of verifying the origin of every material pushes us to become more organized and efficient in our supply chains," he said.

For his part, J.D. González, a customs operations specialist in Laredo, proposed viewing these regulations as a driver of domestic innovation rather than merely as an import restriction. González said that, amid restrictions on foreign technologies, regional industry, innovation, and competitiveness have an opportunity to develop better products within North America.

"Rather than imposing high tariffs that make options more expensive for younger consumers, the real path is to encourage local industry to create better solutions. This is the time to raise our own competitiveness and offer high-tech, high-quality products made in North America," González said.

To complement this perspective, Gustavo Uruchurtu, a former Mexican trade negotiator and president of the National Center for Foreign Trade Competitiveness (CENCOMEX), said that production chains, regional integration, and the automotive industry already show a high degree of interconnection. Referring to vehicles assembled with global components, he noted that technological compatibility at the border—such as navigation and connectivity systems—represents an opportunity to unify technical standards and facilitate the free movement of goods.

Natural Gas Trade Strengthens Energy Integration Between Mexico and the United States

As the manufacturing sector adjusts its processes, natural gas trade, energy infrastructure, and binational integration are becoming one of the clearest examples of cooperation between the two countries.

Energy analyst Sergio Chapa explained that Mexico is the world's largest destination for U.S. natural gas, importing nearly 7 billion cubic feet per day (7 Bcf/d) of Texas gas. This volume is equivalent to 6% of total U.S. production and nearly three times the amount purchased by Canada.

"The cross-border pipeline network, which operates very successfully at locations such as the Colombia Bridge in Nuevo León, is the best example of how interdependence makes us stronger on both sides of the border," Chapa explained.

This constant flow not only ensures energy supply, strengthens industry, and improves manufacturing competitiveness in Monterrey, but also represents solid business for Texas producers.

Chapa added that this cooperation model can be replicated in other regions of the country. Developing new infrastructure to transport natural gas to southern Mexico represents an opportunity to drive industrial growth and support more balanced economic development.

The four panelists agreed that the USMCA, binational collaboration, and supply chains rest on a solid foundation because of the interconnected industries of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Although the review scheduled for 2026 will bring stricter customs standards and greater compliance challenges for exporters, the experts said coordination among the three countries will strengthen North America's competitiveness and consolidate its position as one of the world's most important trading regions.