Hamer: Trade is good

It was an honor to speak in San Antonio on Monday at the Lone Star Trade Summit hosted by the San Antonio Business Journal.

The all-star list of speakers included Dennis Nixon the President and CEO of IBC Bank, and the EVP of IBC Bank, Gerry Schwebel, aka The Trade Evangelist. 

On my panel, my friend Aaron Demerson, the head of the Texas Economic Development Corporation did a fantastic job of explaining why Texas is a leader in trade and the best place to invest and create and grow jobs. 

As the top export state by far, Texas has the most to gain when we trade more. 

The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is the best trade deal ever entered into by the United States. It’s made North America the most prosperous trading bloc on the planet. The first Trump Administration expertly negotiated it and Congress passed it with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. Every Member of the Texas congressional delegation voted for it. 

The US builds goods — like autos — with Mexico and Canada. Parts cross the border up to seven or eight times before a final good is assembled. 

About 40% of the goods exported to the US from Canada and Mexico have American parts in them. For China, that percentage is about 4%. 

USMCA is working! Win-Win-Win!

Mexico is now the top trading partner of the US with Canada close behind and China having slipped to third. 

Yes to more trade between the US, Mexico, and Canada. Yes to working closer together on border security and illicit, deadly drugs (fentanyl). 

No to increased tariffs, which would raise prices for consumers and weaken the US’s ability to compete economically with China and other regions of the world in advanced manufacturing. 

Increased tariffs would also increase the cost of the avocado toast I consume daily. And it would harm the “Make America Healthy Again” platform of the second Trump Administration. A major percentage of fresh, nutritious imported produce comes from Mexico and Canada. 

Texas Association of Business will do all possible to bring the business community together behind sensible trade and migration policies. 

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was penned by Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. The commentary first appeared in Hamer’s regular social media column, Ham(m)er Time. It appears in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service with the permission of the author.

Editor’s Note: The Texas Association of Business holds its Policy Conference in Austin on January 6, 2026. Click here to register. 

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