Breaking News: Global Trade Faces Crucial Crossroads at UNAM’s Jesús Silva-Herzog Flores Forum
In a high-stakes discussion marking a significant moment in global trade, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) convened a critical reflection at the Jesús Silva-Herzog Flores 2025 forum on June 3. The event was held at the auditorium named after the notable figure in the Faculty of Economics, drawing key stakeholders to address the complex, intertwined challenges and opportunities shaping the future of international trade.
Geopolitical Tensions, Technological Disruptions, and Environmental Concerns
The forum centered on an unprecedented crossroads for global trade, influenced heavily by geopolitical tensions, technological disruptions, and pressing environmental challenges. This aligns with the weakened state of multilateralism, requiring thoughtful reassessment and strategic planning.
Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas Offers Inaugural Perspective
Dr. Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas, Rector of UNAM, opened the forum with a critical appraisal of global transformations. “World trade is a system in constant transformation,” he noted. “Today it is not enough to talk about flows or treaties, but about the principles that articulate them, the forces that cross them, and the uncertain horizons they project.”
Lomelí, drawing from his dual background in economics and history, sounded a cautionary note about the outdated ideas of free trade and competitiveness. He underscored the need for Mexico to develop an industrial, scientific, and technological policy that fosters sovereignty.
José Ángel Gurría Highlights Paradigm Shift
Mtro. José Ángel Gurría, the former Secretary of the Treasury and former president of the OECD, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing a paradigm shift driven by political, technological, and economic changes. “First, by Donald Trump. Second, by Donald Trump. And third, for technology,” Gurría stated.
He stressed that global trade has evolved into a “new ecosystem” where tariffs alone are insufficient. The discussion must now encompass value chains, clean energy, digital services, and artificial intelligence. According to Gurría, the opening paradigm remains valid but must be reformulated with equity, sustainability, and responsibility.
Economic Relevance in Mexico’s Post-Revolutionary Project
Mtra. Lorena Rodríguez León, Director of the Faculty of Economics, contextualized the forum’s relevance. “Our faculty is heir to a political-institutional tradition considering the economy as a decisive discipline of the national post-revolutionary project,” she noted.
The Future of Mexico in Global Trade
The forum’s analysis panel included key experts in economic policy and international relations. Dr. Luis de la Calle Pardo underscored Mexico’s pivotal role in global trade. “The question is not whether there will be a paradigm shift, but what role Mexico wants to play in it,” he asserted. He cautioned that seizing this opportunity requires investment in clean energy, logistics integration, and long-term vision.
Mtro. Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, the former Secretary of Economy, analyzed the U.S. political and electoral context. “Commercial agreements are not magical wands. They help generate growth, but sustained development requires public policies,” he noted. He warned against the risks of countries failing to meet T-MEC commitments, potentially leading to renegotiations.
Global Power Shifts and Trade Implications
Ambassador Roberta Lajous Vargas, a diplomat and writer, contributed a broader perspective. “What we live is not only a change in world trade, but a change in the paradigm of global power. Multilateralism is being replaced by a mercantilist unilateralism,” she posited. Lajous emphasized the need to safeguard public services and warned about escalating militarization along the U.S.-Mexico border.
A Tribute to the Legacy of Jesús Silva-Herzog Flores
The forum paid tribute to the legacy of Jesús Silva-Herzog Flores, a key architect of modern Mexico. guerra kvずれ Rector Lomelí underscored, “The future is not improvised; it is built with responsibility.”
— Reported by archyde.com
