Details
The KAS offices in Mexico and Canada cordially invite you to participate in a virtual expert session to engage political stakeholders and the interested public from Europe and the Americas in a constructive dialogue about strategies and countermeasures taken by the neighbouring countries of the United States in response to the persistent threat of tariffs.
Since taking office for a second time in January 2025, US President Donald Trump has shaken up global markets, investors, and even his closest trading partners with an array of erratic and sometimes seriously threatening trade policy decisions that have had disastrous consequences for the global economy as well as the state and future of his countries’ alliances around the world. Although no country seems to be safe from such policies based on perceived unfair trading practices, two countries however, the only direct neighbours of the United States and arguably its most important commercial allies, have since the beginning of the year experienced an unmatched rollercoaster ride of threatened tariffs, imposed tariffs, exempted tariffs and lifted tariffs – often just within a couple of days.
An all-out trade war would have devastating implications for the economies of both Canada and Mexico and its governments have taken somewhat different approaches to counter the most serious threats and to accommodate comprehensible concerns coming from the White House. The offices of Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mexico and Canada intend to provide participants with first-hand expert opinions regarding the impact, consequences, and potential countermeasures regarding the consistent threat of tariffs from Washington. What could be smart, accommodating, and sustainable ways forward in a seemingly unpredictable trade environment among formerly close partners.
Agenda:
09.00 Welcome address by Dr. Bernd Althusmann, Director KAS Canada Ing. Hans-Hartwig Blomeier, Director KAS Mexico
09.10 Prof. Jorge Schiavon from Mexico Full-time Professor at the Department of International Studies at Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO), Mexico City
09.25 Prof. Patrick Leblond from Canada Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
09.40 Q & A (Questions will be collected during the session via chat.)
10.00 End of webinar
