News & Updates
Trade Mission Accelerates Trade Between Florida and Mexico’s Ports
Florida port leaders joined with the World Trade Center Miami (WTCM) in a trade mission to Mexico recently, visiting Mexico City and Merida to promote bilateral trade and continue strengthening the significant commercial relationship between the two economies.
The late June trade mission was the second phase of a multi-year effort for the Florida-Mexico Work Group, which was created through a letter of intent signed between the Florida Ports Council (FPC) and Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante – (DGCPMM) in 2019.
During the trade mission, the two economies continued working toward transforming the foundations of this relationship into a strategic business partnership by establishing a commercial, investment and co-manufacturing operations between Florida and Mexico and leveraging the U.S.- Mexico- Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“Mexico is one of Florida’s top trading partners, and maintaining this valuable economic relationship is important. We see substantial opportunities for growth in bilateral waterborne trade for Florida’s seaports. Special thanks to Consul General Auerbach and World Trade Center Miami for their trade mission leadership.” Michael Rubin, President and CEO, Florida Ports Council.
With an exchange of over $11 billion dollars in 2021, Mexico ranks No. 3 as a destination for Florida origin exports and No. 2 as a source of imports. Trade and investment between the two economies has grown significantly over the course of several years.
Five Florida Ports participated in the trade mission: Port Everglades, Port Manatee, Port Miami, Port Tampa Bay and Port of Panama City.
This is the first trade mission organized by the WTCM. It was held in partnership with the Consulate of Mexico in Miami, the FPC, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, CAMACOL (Latin Chamber of Commerce and Industry of USA), and supported by Enterprise Florida, U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce.
“Over the next few years, we will see the continued evolution of a more robust supply chain between Mexico and Florida as companies continue to explore re-shoring and nearshoring solutions. Co-manufacturing between Florida and Mexico is one way to provide supply chain security and resiliency as well as significant time and cost savings for manufacturing operations by leveraging Florida’s ports. The Florida-Mexico Workgroup and this mission are key to this effort.” Alice Ancona, SVP & COO, WTCM and Florida representative of the Florida-Mexico Work Group.
Mission participants had face-to-face meetings with key business and government officials, as well as with chambers of commerce and other industry associations in Mexico City and in Mérida, Yucatán.