The Arizona- Mexico commission spent last week in Hermosillo as the first step in building a trade relationship and to brainstorm topics for the upcoming AMC Plenary.

The trip was led by Jessica Pacheco during her first week as president of the commission. She wanted to ensure that the relationship between Arizona and Sonora would not be delayed because of the possibility of upcoming federal trade policy changes. This includes trade in industries important to both states including auto manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, education and mining.

During the weeklong trip, members of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce were treated with opportunities to meet business leaders and Sonora community politicians, including the governor’s chief of staff, the Sonoran secretary of the economy, and the head of the Sonoran Chamber of Commerce counterpart.

Arizona and Mexico have a long-standing trade partnership that accounts for almost half of Arizona’s exports. They are supported by pro-NAFTA Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) on the Arizona side and Executive Director of the AMC Marcos Garay.

Garay also presented with Yamilett Martinez Briseno at the Cumbre Sonora 2017, a large business assembly focused on the benefits of trade between the two countries.

At the conclusion of the trip, both sides were optimistic about the future of trade between the two countries.