Nearly 20 years after the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico and Canada have joined the United States in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an ambitious trade negotiation with eight other Pacific Rim countries. The inclusion of our closest trading partners in the Western Hemisphere ensures that the deal is truly trans-Pacific, rather than one focused primarily on Asia. While Washington focuses on a “pivot” to Asia, rebalancing our global priorities will prove incomplete without a renewed commitment to our North American neighbors.

The Mexican and Canadian economies are not only our largest export markets, but also joint production platforms. We build goods together, and we must do more to advance cross-border trade.

Our relationship with Mexico presents intriguing possibilities with the new administration of President Peña Nieto. A bold vision for our bilateral relationship should capitalize on Mexico’s growing economic dynamism and diplomatic heft.

via Time to Shift Focus in Relations with Mexico | AS/COA.