2023 North American Leaders’ Summit: Issues for the 118th Congress

2023 North American Leaders’ Summit: Issues for the 118th Congress

INSIGHTi

2023 North American Leaders’ Summit: Issues
for the 118th Congress
January 31, 2023
Mexico hosted the 10th North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS) in Mexico City on January 9-10, 2023.
President Joe Biden met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Canadian Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau for discussions on trilateral issues of mutual importance. In a Declaration of
North America (DNA), the leaders stated their determination “to fortify our region’s security, prosperity,
sustainability and inclusiveness through commitments” across six areas regarding inclusivity, the
environment, competitiveness, migration, health, and regional security. The White House Fact Sheet of
key deliverables for the 2023 NALS highlighted the importance of strengthening North American
partnerships, advancing shared priorities, and promoting a common vision on economic competitiveness
and security. Building upon previous accomplishments, the leaders presented new initiatives and
announcements. The summit did not address ongoing USMCA trade disputes involving energy, dairy, and
motor vehicle rules of origin; nor did its final deliverables directly address immediate concerns of some
policymakers regarding record levels of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border or escalating fentanyl
overdose deaths.
Many in Congress have expressed an interest in efforts to strengthen North American ties and create a
more coordinated foreign and economic policy toward countries in the Western Hemisphere. The 118th
Congress, in its oversight capacity, may take interest in the deliverables that emerged from NALS in
major areas of cooperation, including economic competitiveness; supply chains; clean energy and climate
crisis; migration; illegal trafficking of arms, drugs, and persons; health security threats; and inclusivity
and racial justice.
Economic Competitiveness
Economic competitiveness has been a key goal of the NALS since the first summit in 2005. The 2023
NALS placed a major focus on strengthening supply chains, which also has been of interest to many in
Congress as the United States seeks to compete with, and reduce dependence on, China, especially in the
semiconductor industry. Key deliverables include
 announcing the first-ever trilateral semiconductor forum with senior industry
representatives and trilateral cabinet level participation,
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 coordinating semiconductor supply chain mapping efforts to develop an understanding of
unmet needs and investment opportunities,
 expanding North American critical minerals resource mapping to collect details on
resources and reserves,
 partnering with the private sector to increase higher education and student exchange
opportunities under a new North America Student Mobility Project based on the 100K
Strong Initiative, and
 convening industry and academia experts in semiconductors and other key industries to
develop the necessary skills and workforce over the next five years.
Clean Energy Economies and Climate Change
The 117th Congress adopted P.L. 117-169, commonly referred to as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,
to accelerate the transition to clean energy and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Among other
incentives, the legislation modified tax credits for electric vehicles and provided new tax credits for clean
commercial vehicles. The North American leaders declared that their countries must take rapid and
coordinated measures to continue advancing clean energy development and responding to climate change.
Commitments include
 reducing methane emissions from solid waste and wastewater by at least 15% by 2030
and deepening collaboration on methane mitigation,
 developing a waste reduction action plan by the end of 2025 to cut food loss and waste,
 sharing information on best practices to electrify and decarbonize public buses,
 building a plan for operating standards and the installation of electric vehicle chargers
along international borders,
 committing to trilateral cooperation in conservation and advancing Indigenous-led
conservation, and
 developing a North American clean hydrogen market.
Migration
Migration issues continue to be a high priority for U.S. policy and Congress; confronting record levels of
regional migration figured prominently among the topics discussed at the NALS and in U.S.-Mexico
bilateral discussions. The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to work together to achieve safe,
orderly, and humane migration in the region, but they did not address immediate concerns about
migration. Commitments include
 finalizing and implementing a trilateral action plan to improve coordination and address
root causes of migration,
 announcing a virtual platform to increase information sharing on seasonal workers
programs and labor rights,
 helping migrants access legal pathways to the United States with private sector support,
 increasing information sharing and best practices on the U.S.-Mexico binational Seasonal
Agricultural Workers Program,
 sharing best practices in asylum processing systems, and
 promoting balanced public narratives on migrants and refugees to counter discrimination.

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Strategies to Combat Illegal Trafficking
The three countries committed to coordinate actions and strategies to combat arms and drug trafficking, as
well as trafficking in persons. Some Members of Congress have questioned the efficacy of U.S.-Mexican
security cooperation since Mexico has replaced China as the primary source of fentanyl in the United
States; fentanyl accounted for some 66% of the nearly 108,000 U.S. drug overdoses in 2021. NALS final
commitments do not directly address the escalating fentanyl crisis. Deliverables include
 resuming the North American Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Persons dialogue to
improve cooperation,
 continuing collaboration within the North American Drug Dialogue,
 developing a unified North American position to the collection of Passenger Name
Records,
 advancing North American nuclear security and safety collaboration, and
 increasing engagement on cyber security best practices.
Health Security
After the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic and its effects on health systems in North
America, numerous policymakers called for greater coordination in the response to health emergencies.
NALS commitments include
 sharing information and developing public policies to protect the three countries against
current and future health crises, and
 revising the North American Plan for Animal and Pandemic Influenza to strengthen North
America’s ability to respond to health security threats.
Inclusivity and Racial Justice
The Biden Administration’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion and combat racism might place
issues before Congress in its oversight capacity. The NALS deliverables include trilateral commitments to
 establish a trilateral expert exchange of information for best practices and advancing
equity and racial justice in North American public policies,
 collaborate through regional and multilateral organizations to advance equity and justice,
 combat violence against Indigenous women and girls and against LGBTQI+ individuals,
and
 add Mexico to the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment
and Abuse.

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Author Information

M. Angeles Villarreal
Clare Ribando Seelke
Specialist in International Trade and Finance
Specialist in Latin American Affairs

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