NAFTA 20th Anniversary Panel and Mexican Culture Night in Greenville, SC.

Reinaldo Panico Peres was invited by The International Center of the Upstate and the Hispanic Alliance in Greenville, SC, to participate in the panel discussion of NAFTA 20^th Anniversary and their Mexican Culture Night on May 27^th, 2014. The panel also counted with the presence of the Honorable Javier Díaz de Léon (Consul General of Mexico); Mr. Denis Csizmadia (Manager, US Export Assistance Center); Mrs. Iciar Balza Echeita (General Manager – North America, Gonvarri Group); Mr. Pablo Martinez (North America Regional Quality & Warranty Director, TI Automotive); and it was moderated by Eric Schmid – Partner, Elliott Davis. The event was attended by almost 100 people interested in how this very important Agreement faired throughout its first two decades. Mr. Peres pointed out that “in 1994, the US exported just over $52 billion to Mexico and last year this number surpassed $223.5 billion.” Moreover, when asked if the continued deficit with Mexico was not detrimental to the US economy, he mentioned a comment from a former Mexico Ambassador to the US: “People forget that for every $1.00 Mexico earns on its exports, they spent more than $0.50 in US products.”