MARCH 2026  15 
GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC PANEL
Diplomatic leaders representing 
Mexico, ASEAN, the European 
Union, and Canada translated macro 
themes into regional strategies and 
concrete opportunities with Illinois. 
The panel moderated by Laura Orte-
ga, explored topics such as nearshor-
ing across North America, industrial 
policy and digital trade growth in 
Europe, ASEAN’s expanding role 
in supplychain diversification, and 
opportunities for deeper commercial 
partnerships across sectors.
MEXICO: NEARSHORING 
AND USMCA REVIEW
With U.S.–Midwest supply chains 
deeply interconnected, the discussion 
focused on nearshoring opportu-
nities and the upcoming USMCA 
review, emphasizing the need to 
balance investment attraction with 
longterm industrial, workforce, and 
energy strategies. Illinois stands to 
benefit from strengthened crossbor-
der supply chains in automotive/EV 
components, industrial machinery, 
food processing, and packaging, 
contingent on continued infrastruc-
ture upgrades and a clear, predictable 
regulatory framework.
CANADA / QUÉBEC: 
CONNECTIVITY AND 
CLEANENERGY 
INTEGRATION
Conversation highlighted how Can-
ada and Québec are positioning for 
growth amid evolving U.S.–Canada 
policy alignment and potential USM-
CA outcomes. Priority areas include 
transportation corridors, cleanenergy 
integration, critical minerals, and 
crossborder data flows supporting 
advanced manufacturing and AI. 
Illinois–Québec opportunities span 
battery supply chains, grid mod-
ernization, agtech, and aerospace, 
enabled by regulatory coherence and 
practical approaches to economicse-
curity goals. 
EUROPEAN UNION / 
PORTUGAL: DERISKING 
AND STANDARDS 
LEADERSHIP
Against continued geopolitical and 
energy pressures, the EU discussion 
centered on aligning industrial policy 
with openmarket commitments 
while pursuing calibrated derisking. 
Opportunities for Illinois and EU 
partners—including Portugal—lie in 
standards collaboration, cleantech 
and clean energy investments, medi-
cal devices and life sciences partner-
ships, and digitaltrade enablement. 
Illinois’ strengths in R&D, universi-
ties, and logistics position the state 
as a valuable partner in innovation 
consortia and deployment testbeds. 
ASEAN / PHILIPPINES: 
ECONOMIC SECURITY 
AND DIVERSIFICATION
With the Philippines chairing 
ASEAN in 2026, priorities include 
strengthening economic securi-
ty, improving infrastructure, and 
enhancing regulatory transparency 
to maintain strategic neutrality while 
deepening regional integration. For 
Illinois firms, growth areas include 
agriculture and food systems, cold-
chain logistics, industrial tech, health 
tech, and smartport solutions. ASE-
AN partners emphasized the need for 
capacitybuilding, clearer marketentry 
guidance, and pilot projects that 
generate demonstrable commercial 
outcomes. 
	
This year’s Global Trade Outlook 
provided the nearly one hundred 
attendees with valuable insights and 
new connections. As Dr. Levy noted, 
trade and FDI remain resilient, but 
rapidly shifting rules are reshaping 
where and how firms invest. The 
prudent response is not retreat but 
strategic adaptation. Companies best 
positioned for success will embrace 
datadriven decisionmaking, invest in 
operational resilience, and strengthen 
international partnerships—especial-
ly at the subregional level—to turn 
uncertainty into advantage. 
	
Looking ahead, the strong en-
gagement and feedback from partic-
ipants position this program to grow 
even further, with increased member 
support expected to solidify it as an 
important annual initiative of the 
Illinois Chamber.
fts in Trade, Policy, and Investment

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