U.S.-Mexico Energy and Climate Collaboration

As the Trump administration takes office, the energy relationship between Mexico and the United States is at a historic high point. Mexico’s new energy model, based on market dynamics and attracting private and foreign investment, has opened the way for a highly constructive and productive dialogue between national authorities and their counterparts in Canada and the United States. The regular meetings that have taken place between the energy minsters of the three NAFTA countries have served to deepen mutual understanding and to further energy cooperation at both the regional and global levels. 

This policy brief examines the progress that has taken place in Mexico’s energy sector and the energy relationship between Mexico and the United States over the past four years. More importantly, it proposes meaningful paths for collaboration based on three main factors:  1) the transformation of energy systems worldwide; 2) the opportunities presented by a liberalized energy sector in Mexico; and 3) the interest shown by the incoming Trump administration in energy policy. Most importantly, the incoming administration should embrace the existing North American energy dialogue as it has become a critical resource in preparing for the future of global and regional energy markets.

"U.S.-Mexico Energy and Climate Collaboration," was written by Duncan Wood, Director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center. This policy brief is the fourth of our series "Charting a New Course: Policy Options for the Next Stage in U.S.-Mexico Relations." The policy briefs will be released individually and published as a volume in the spring of 2017.