January 16, 2024, 11:00-12:00 CST
Inu Manak is a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). At CFR, she researches and writes on policy issues relevant to U.S. trade policy, including topics such trade politics and institutions, trade negotiations, and dispute settlement. An expert in international political economy, Dr. Manak’s research focuses on U.S. trade policy and the law and politics of the World Trade Organization. Her recent book, The Development Dimension: Special and Differential Treatment in Trade (Routledge Focus, 2021) was co-authored with James Bacchus, the first chairman of the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body.
Speaker presentation
The North American Region: Its Past, Present and Potential Future
At the turn of the 21st century, the idea of North America began to gain traction, with a new vision for a continental future taking shape. This vision emerged from a perfect storm – strong economic growth and low unemployment in the United States, historic elections in Mexico that saw the leading party lose its seven-decade grip on power, and growing distrust of international trade institutions that spurred interest in regionalism. However, over the last twenty years, that vision has languished. While the underlying conditions have shifted in many important ways, the outline of the North America that could have been remains ever relevant today. Can we still “think North American” and where would a continental approach be most helpful? Three areas of opportunity stand out: the removal of regulatory trade barriers and coordination on external trade policy; a North American climate agenda; and a commitment to narrowing the income gap with Mexico. Tackling each could reinvigorate continental cooperation and ensure that the United States remains a leader in critical trade and climate issues, while providing a vision for development in the region to counter China’s growing influence.