COPARMEX Hosts Sustainability Forum Before USMCA 2026 Review

As part of preparations for the 2026 review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), COPARMEX and federal authorities held the Sustainability, Ecological Development, Water, and Circular Economy Forum in Mexico City on Sept. 23. The event brought together business leaders and government officials to discuss how ecological development, water management, and the circular economy must shape industrial policy and business practices amid challenges to North American economic integration.

Speakers emphasized that sustainability is no longer optional but a prerequisite for competitiveness in North America. Gerardo Trejo, vice president, COPARMEX, said long-term competitiveness will depend on aligning with global trends in water use, waste reduction, and resource efficiency.

Water management emerged as a key challenge. Paola Félix Díaz, secretary general of the National Agreement for Water, noted that 76% of Mexico’s freshwater is used in agriculture, 7% in industry and energy, and 15% for public consumption, while more than 350,000 water concessions face irregularities. She warned that mismanagement could undermine economic development.

On corporate adoption of sustainability, Valentina López, president of COPARMEX’s Ecological Development Commission, said only 7% of mid- to large-sized companies have comprehensive strategies. She stressed that a circular economy requires redesigning production systems to reduce resource dependence, not just waste reduction.

Andrea Hurtado, director general of Policies for Climate Action, SEMARNAT, added that the transition must be structural. “We are not talking about incremental adjustments, but a transformation that will reconfigure entire industries,” she said, highlighting the need for retraining programs for workers affected by industrial shifts.

Juan José Sierra, national president, COPARMEX, concluded: “Growth cannot come at the expense of ecosystems. We cannot talk about progress while degrading the ecosystems that sustain life.”