Global Business Briefing with The Honorable Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State

 

Deep economic bonds exist between Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America, with the United States leading as the region's largest trade partner, followed closely by Canada. Current economic partnerships like APAP, MSP, The Chips Act, and PGI are already established, preceding an upcoming $3 billion investment platform from the United States. Despite the successes of existing free trade agreements, there remains a call for more inclusive outcomes and enhanced integration with the private sector. To discuss these challenges and opportunities in the region, the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with Kimberly-Clark Corporation to host a Global Business Briefing with The Honorable Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S Department of State.  

About The Honorable Brian A. Nichols

Brian A. Nichols became Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs on September 15, 2021. Assistant Secretary Nichols previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe from 2018 to 2021. In that role, he promoted democracy, rule of law and human rights in Zimbabwe while managing multi-dimensional humanitarian crises brought on by corruption, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Assistant Secretary Nichols served as the U.S. Ambassador to Peru from 2014 to 2017. He pioneered strategies against illegal gold mining, illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and environmental degradation. He supported American trade and investment in Peru, increasing agricultural sales to over $1 billion annually, defending the rights of American investors, and building the Hemisphere’s largest public-private partnership—the U.S.-Peru Cacao Alliance. 

Here are some takeaways from the program:

2024 is known as the year of elections, and recent and upcoming elections in Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, and potential shifts in Canada will significantly impact multinational investment strategies in the region. Moreover, China's increasing investments in South America, including infrastructure projects and semiconductor manufacturing, pose strategic implications for Western influence in the hemisphere. Multinational companies face challenges from evolving political landscapes in Mexico, constitutional reforms, and potential migration waves, amidst concerns over Chinese manufacturing capacity. Latin America offers diverse investment opportunities across sectors like infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and digital services, attracting interest from multinational corporations seeking to capitalize on regional growth.