Global Business Briefing with Mr. Daniel Erikson, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs

 

On July 19, 2024, the Meridian Corporate Council and Deloitte hosted a Global Business Briefing featuring Mr. Daniel Erikson, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council. The discussion, moderated by Mr. Carl Meacham, President and CEO of Global Americans, covered key topics affecting economic and political relations in the Western Hemisphere. 

About Mr. Daniel Erikson

Mr. Daniel P. Erikson is the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council.  He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Defense.  Mr. Erikson served in the White House as special advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden, where he covered foreign affairs and national security issues in the Americas. Prior to the White House, he served in the U.S. Department of State as senior advisor for Congressional and Inter-Governmental Affairs and senior advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs. In 2017, he received the State Department’s Superior Honor Award for his diplomatic contributions to U.S.-Latin American relations, including the advancement of bipartisan policies to support security and development in Central America and Colombia. In addition to his U.S. government experience, Mr. Erikson has held senior positions in the private sector, think-tanks, and academia. He has published widely on a range of topics in international and Latin American and Caribbean affairs and testified before the U.S. Congress. Mr. Erikson earned his Masters in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in International Relations from Brown University. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.  

Here are some takeaways from the program:

The Biden administration's approach to unlocking Latin American potential was a central theme. The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) emerged as a cornerstone initiative, aiming to enhance economic cooperation among 12 countries representing 20% of global GDP. China's growing influence in Latin America was highlighted as a significant concern, having become the largest trading partner for many countries in the region. The U.S. is actively engaging with Latin American countries on digital policy, AI, and emerging technologies through bilateral dialogues and diplomatic outreach. The administration is also addressing challenges related to Digital Services Tax through the OECD multilateral convention on taxation. The future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was examined in light of upcoming elections in all three countries. Throughout the discussion, the importance of maintaining strong trade connections in the Western Hemisphere was emphasized.