Event Program Highlights & What You'll Learn

The past 18 months of the Trump administration has altered the dynamic of the US-Mexico relationship, and raised questions about Mexico’s place in the global supply chain.

• As negotiations continue about the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico trade continues to flourish, with containerized shipping volumes rising 12 percent in 2017, according to government statistics. 

• That growth is driving increases in marine terminal capacity, and, to a lesser extent, enhanced connectivity to rail and road networks, critical information for shippers planning their supply chain networks.

• But that trade growth, and a myriad of related domestic and international issues ranging from rising diesel fuel costs to persistent security challenges, is creating gaps in the supply chain now, and Mexican importers and exporters are looking to their logistics providers for innovative ways to improve cargo visibility and efficiency. 

• The supply chain dynamic undoubtedly will take a new turn with the June election of a new president in Mexico and with November’s midterm congressional elections in the US.

Why Mexico & Why Now?

• The Mexican Freight Outlook:  Where’s the Market Heading? 
  This kickoff session will assess the existing and future demands on Mexico’s freight system, and the challenges of meeting them
  
  
• Crossing the Border: A Deep Dive into Laredo, Otay Mesa, El Paso and other Truck Border Points 
  Panelists will detail the various conditions at the major US-Mexico ports of entry, and provide guidance on how shippers can better ensure freight security and mitigate rising rates via alternative routings, sharper negotiations with service providers, and intermodal rail. The panel also will detail the state of customs clearance on both sides of the border, how shippers can reduce the possibility of cargo inspection delays, and what the private and public sectors need to do to ensure fluidity and reliability.
  
  
• Supply Chain Visibility: Getting a Clearer View   
  This session will explore how shippers can use visibility to make the leap from reacting to crises to proactive risk management. The growing potential for technology to offer greater visibility into the end-to-end movement of containers is forcing shippers and logistics providers to drill down into how much they need to see and how to overcome obstructions blocking their view.