North America: $3.1 Million in Trade Per Minute Signals Regional Economic Power

North America generates over $3.1 million in trade every minute among its three member nations: Mexico, the United States, and Canada, according to Juan Pablo Cervantes, President of the North America International Section of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment, and Technology (COMCE).

Cervantes announced that COMCE supports Mexico’s vision, shared by Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, to build a "strong, competitive, and future-ready region together with the United States and Canada." He noted that since the transition from NAFTA to the USMCA, North America—accounting for 30% of the world’s GDP—has made significant strides in key industries such as automotive manufacturing, which remains a cornerstone of trilateral cooperation.

However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hold a central role in this strategy. Despite being major job creators in North America, SMEs face several challenges to fully integrate into global value chains.

Ahead of the scheduled USMCA review in 2026, COMCE has identified priority areas including rules of origin, labor provisions, and opportunities in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, electromobility, and medical devices.

“These adjustments will be essential to maintaining the region’s competitiveness against others like Europe and Asia,” stated Cervantes.