World Trade Day 2026: The North American Hat Trick
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (3:30 PM - 6:30 PM) (CDT)
Description
World Trade Day: The North American Hat Trick: Trade, Talent, and Teamwork Under USMCA
As the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA/T-MEC/CUSMA) approaches its first required review in July 2026, the future of North American trade is at a pivotal moment. This program brings together expert speakers from the United States, Mexico, and Canada to provide a truly tri-national perspective on what’s ahead.
At the same time, these three nations are collaborating on a global stage as co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup —highlighting an unprecedented era of regional partnership, connectivity, and economic opportunity. This convergence of trade and global engagement makes understanding USMCA more relevant than ever.
Join us for a timely discussion on the key issues shaping the review, and our speakers will share real-world insights on how businesses are impacted by the agreement.
Whether you are an importer, exporter, trade compliance professional, or supply chain leader, this session will equip you with the knowledge and cross-border context needed to navigate the next phase of USMCA.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain critical insights and connect with professionals engaged in trade across North America.
Learn more about our speakers!
Enrique Perret holds a Bachelor's degree in International Trade from the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, as well as a Master's degree in Economics and Government from the Universidad Anáhuac. He has also completed executive courses at Harvard University, the Wharton School, and SMU.
During his time in the Mexican government, he was known for his focus on leading governmental commitments and business development strategies between the two countries. He currently serves as the Managing Director of the US-Mexico Foundation and is the President and Founder of the North Capital Forum, an initiative that seeks to promote North America as an economic, social, and political powerhouse.
Before assuming these roles, Enrique held the position of Director for North America at ProMéxico, the Mexican government's promotion agency, where he worked for over ten years in various capacities.
Enrique has been an active advocate for civil society efforts and has held leadership roles in several institutions, including serving on the board of directors of Teach for Mexico (Mexican chapter of Teach for All) and the board of trustees of Reinserta. He is also a member of the boards of Fundemex, Nepanoa, Pacto and COMEXUS, and is the President and Founder of Grupo Mexico en Movimiento.
He has been a Fellow at the Milken Institute for two years, contributing to initiatives focused on economic development and regional competitiveness.
Panelist: Eric Goodman
Bio coming soon!
Panelist: Ludovic Ortuno
Ludovic is a senior economic development professional specializing in export development, investment attraction, site selection, and industry and cluster analysis. He has served as Managing Director for Missouri DED Canadian Office since 2013, with a mandate to support Missouri’s SMEs in successfully entering and growing in the Canadian market as well as attracting Canadian companies to expand in the Show Me State.
With nearly 20 years of experience, he has led hundreds of international trade projects and missions and oversees trade services for U.S. state clients, delivering more than 200 projects annually for U.S. exporters targeting Canada.
Since 2015, he has contributed to SIDO’s export training and best-practice programs for trade managers from more than 40 U.S. states. He also regularly collaborates with award-winning initiatives such as the UK Department for Business and Trade’s Export Academy, as well as multiple U.S. state programs, including those in Georgia, New York, and Virginia.
Ludovic is a Canadian and French national of Spanish origin and is fluent in French, English, and Spanish.
Moderator: Brian Gordon
Brian Gordon is currently the Senior Vice President in charge of the trade and trade finance line of business at Commerce Bank. With over 35 years of international banking experience Brian enjoys helping customers solve problems and issues as they grow their international market presence. He currently serves on the board of BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade), MITA’s (Midwest International Trade Association) advisory council, the World Trade Center KC’s investor board, and on the Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone board.
Thank you to our event sponsors!
DOUBLE PLATINUM
PLATINUM
SILVER
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- Networking & Light Snacks: 3:30–4:15 PM
- Panel Discussion: 4:00–5:00 PM with experts from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico exploring trade trends and opportunities
- Q&A Session: Engage directly with panelists
- CPKC Stadium Tours & Additional Networking: Following the panel