Renewing North America: What's Next for the USMCA?

Virtual

Jorge Buendía, Nik Nanos, Dina Smeltz, and Julián Ventura discuss the renewal and future of the USMCA and the Council’s newest public opinion survey findings.

The flags of Mexico, Canada, and the United States fly next to each other.

Jun

Paul Sancya / AP

Speakers

Jorge Buendía
Nik Nanos
Dina Smeltz
Julián Ventura

Date and Time

Jun 30: 10:15 - 11:15 am CDT

Doors Open: 10:15 am

Location

YouTube

Who Can Attend

For All

REGISTRATION

This live stream is open to the public.

About The Event

As the United States, Mexico, and Canada prepare for the upcoming review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), North America faces a period of political and economic uncertainty. Since 2020, the agreement has underpinned regional cooperation, but recent disputes over policy, energy, manufacturing, supply chains, and economic competitiveness have raised questions about its future. At the same time, shifting political dynamics across all three countries and growing concerns over inflation, immigration, and economic security are reshaping public attitudes toward trade and regional cooperation.

Against this backdrop, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs will release new public opinion data on North Americans’ views of regional cooperation and the future of economic integration within the continent. Join Jorge Buendía, Nik Nanos, and Dina Smeltz in conversation with Julián Ventura as they discuss the survey’s findings and what the data reveal about the future of the USMCA and the North American partnership.

About the Speakers

Jorge Buendía

Director, Buendía & Laredo

Jorge Buendía is the Director of Buendía & Laerdo. Mr. Buendía conducts research on electoral marketing, electoral studies, electoral behavior, and public opinion. He is a member of the National System of Researchers and a professor-researcher of the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM) and the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE).

Nik Nanos

Chief Data Scientist, Founder, Nanos Research Group of Companies

Nik Nanos is a leading expert in public opinion research, political behavior, and Canada–U.S. relations. He is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Nanos Research and serves as the pollster of record for The Globe and Mail, CTV News, and Bloomberg News in Canada. His insights have been featured in major international outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Reuters, Bloomberg, and the BBC.

Dina Smeltz

Managing Director & Chair, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.

Julián Ventura

Former Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico; Distinguished Nonresident Fellow, Latin America and the Global Economy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Ambassador Julián Ventura is a senior advisor at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group. With over 30 years of diplomatic experience across four Mexican administrations, he most recently served as deputy secretary of foreign relations, overseeing relationships in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East while leading Mexico's G-20 negotiations. He joined the Council in 2025 as distinguished nonresident fellow, Latin America and the global economy.