TAMIU's Dr. Covarrubias Joins Strategic Dialogue on U.S. - México Trade at Brownsville e-Bridge 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, participated as a special invitee in a strategic brainstorming dialogue on U.S. - México trade hosted by the Consulate of México in Brownsville June 6, 2025, at the e-Bridge facility.
The event, titled "Navigating the New Era of U.S. - México Trade at this Border," brought together university experts and regional leaders to discuss cross-border trade and its impact on communities, businesses, and institutions along the Texas - México border.
Dr. Covarrubias joined fellow panelists Dr. Tony Payan, executive director of the Center for U.S.- México Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Dr. Salvador Contreras, associate dean of the Graduate College and Professor of Economics at the Norbert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley. The panel was moderated by Dr. Judith Arrieta, Consul of México in Brownsville.
"The future of U.S.- México trade is about shared prosperity and shared security," Covarrubias said during the dialogue, "North America wins when its partners collaborate, not compete. From bustling ports like Laredo and Brownsville to innovative workforce solutions, North America needs integrated strategies that benefit communities on both sides of the border."
Drawing from his recently published book, "Navigating the New Era of U.S.- México Trade," Covarrubias addressed key themes, including the implementation of Smart Borders, digital transformation in cross-border logistics, and the upcoming USMCA 2.0 review as an opportunity to enhance bilateral economic integration.
"Crossing borders isn't just about trade. It's about building bridges between communities and opportunities," Covarrubias emphasized, "As tariff policies impact cross-border trade, integrated strategies like unified customs and joint skills councils become more important than ever."
The dialogue explored how bilateral trade impacts local communities and examined emerging economic opportunities in the region. Covarrubias highlighted that shared prosperity means leveraging cross-border logistics and digital innovation to drive growth, while shared security encompasses infrastructure development, workforce training, and real-time coordination between the two countries.
He emphasized the need for institutional innovations, such as the Binational Customs Agency concept— one border, one process—where U.S. and Mexican Customs officers work side-by-side to enhance both security and efficiency.
"The approaching 2026 USMCA review provides a natural inflection point," Covarrubias concluded, "The question isn't whether North America can afford to integrate security and prosperity objectives. It's whether it can afford not to. North America’s future is about people, innovation, and shared prosperity.”
For more information about Dr. Covarrubias's work or TAMIU's Texas Center research initiatives, visit http://texascenter.tamiu.edu, email dcova@tamiu.edu, or call 956.326.2520.
