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

PAST EVENT VIDEO
Esteban Guzmán Saucedo, Craig Kafura, Nik Nanos, 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.
Paul Sancya / AP
Speakers
Esteban Guzmán Saucedo
Craig Kafura
Nik Nanos
Julián Ventura
Event Date

About This 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 Esteban Guzmán Saucedo, Craig Kafura, Nik Nanos 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
Esteban Guzmán Saucedo
Project Director, Buendía & Márquez
Esteban Guzman Saucedo Head Shot
Esteban Guzmán Saucedo is Project Director of Buendía & Márquez, has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations from Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE). He holds a Master's degree in Survey Methodology from the University of Maryland in College Park. His international experience includes working at the National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS) and in Westat. His research has been awarded by DC-AAPOR..
Esteban Guzman Saucedo Head Shot
Craig Kafura
Director, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
headshot of Craig Kafura
Craig Kafura is the director of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, and a Pacific Forum Young Leader. At the Council, he coordinates work on public opinion and foreign policy and is a regular contributor to the public opinion and foreign policy blog Running Numbers.
headshot of Craig Kafura
Nik Nanos
Chief Data Scientist, Founder, Nanos Research Group of Companies
Nik Nanos
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.
Nik Nanos
Julián Ventura
Former Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico; Distinguished Nonresident Fellow, Latin America and the Global Economy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Headshot for Julian Ventura
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.
Headshot for Julian Ventura
Issues Global Economy
Regions North America
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