REPORT | June 2021
The Center for Binational Institutions is devoted to promoting a better understanding of the bilateral institutions between Mexico and the United States. Our monthly newsletter presents the relevant events between US-MEXICO bilateral institutions.
1) United States - Mexico Meeting: New security strategy (05.13.21) Learn more
Institutional context - In 2007, both countries partnered under the Merida Initiative to combat criminal organizations. This initiative was put on hold, but multiple meetings have been held between Mexico and the United States throughout the years regarding security.
New Security Strategy Meeting - The bilateral high-level dialogue on a new security strategy, held on May 13th, 2021 was the first dialogue on security issues since President Biden took office. The meeting among the US-Mexico High Level Security Group took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico.
2) First Meeting of the Trade Commission of the USMCA (05.19.21) Learn more
Institutional context - The Free Trade Commission was established in accordance with Article 30.1 of the Additional Protocol of the United States - Mexico - Canada Agreement (USMCA) in June 2020. Ordinary meetings will take place once a year, in person or online, unless the countries agree otherwise, and the Commission must hold its first ordinary meeting within the first year of the USMCA entering into force.
First meeting of the Free Trade Commission 2021 - After almost a year of the USMCA entering into force, the first meeting of the Commission was held on May 19th, 2021. Which complies with the stipulation of holding the first meeting within the first year of the treaty.
3) First AMLO-Harris meeting (05.07.21) and visit by Vice President Harris (06.08.21) Learn more
Institutional context - Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration, several meetings have been held between Mexico and the U.S. on different binational issues such as migration, security, and trade. The last visit to Mexico by an American Vice President took place in 2016, with former president Enrique Peña Nieto and former Vice President Joe Biden.
First AMLO-Harris 2021 meeting - Vice President Kamala Harris had a first virtual meeting with the Mexican president on May 7th, 2021 where the main topic was migration. An official visit by Vice President Harris took place on June 8th, 2021. The main themes addressed were the launching of a new high-level economic cooperation mechanism, investment, migration, regional economic competitiveness, and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
