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Learn more about the United States - Mexico - Canada - Agreement, also known as USMCA or sometimes referred to as NAFTA 2 during the breakfast keynote session. Hear from a panel of knowledgeable speakers as they discuss the changes of the updated agreement, how it will affect trade between the three nations and the prospects for ratification within each country.
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Meet the Panelists:
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 Alicia Kerber Palma, Consul of Mexico in Philadelphia
Consul Kerber has represented Mexico as Officer for Political Affairs at the Mexican Embassy in Colombia; Consul of Mexico in San Pedro Sula, Honduras; and Deputy Representative of Mexico before the Organization of American States (Washington, D.C.). She also served at the Embassy of Mexico in Ireland, for three years as Deputy Head of Mission and before becoming the Head Consul of Mexico in Philadelphia in June 2016, she served as Consul of Mexico in Kansas City. Born in Mexico City, Ms. Kerber obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Law, a Master's Degree in International Law and a Doctor's Degree (PhD) in International Public Law, all from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). During her tenure in Kansas City, among many other achievements, she promoted the creation of the first Window of Integral Attention to Women, the results of which allowed this program to be institutionalized in Mexico's 50 consulates in the United States. Consul Kerber strives to be a voice to the 49% female migrant population, ensuring those women benefit from the many services and programs at the Consular Representations of Mexico.
 Khawar Nasim, Deputy Consul General of Canada in New
York
Mr. Nasim is a career diplomat who joined the Canadian Department of External Affairs in 1993. During his time at Headquarters, Mr. Nasim served in the European Investment and Technology Division, the South Asian Trade Division and the Trade Operations policy unit. His overseas career has included postings in Rome from 1999 to 2002, where he served as Second Secretary (Commercial), Barcelona where he was Consul from 2004 to 2007 and Rome for a second time where he served as Minister-Counsellor (Commercial-Economic) from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, Mr. Nasim took a leave from government to work as Vice-President of External Affairs, for one of Canada's largest gold companies, Yamana Gold of Toronto (2010 to 2013). In 2014, Khawar returned to the Diplomatic service and served as Counsellor (Commercial) in The Hague where he served from 2014 to 2016. Mr. Nasim was named Canada's Consul General in Minneapolis in July 2016 and Deputy Consul General in New York in November 2017. Mr. Nasim has a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce (Carleton University) and a Master's Degree in Business Administration (McGill University).
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 Alex Halper, Director of Government Affairs, PA Chamber of Business and Industry
Alex Halper joined the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry's Government Affairs team in 2011, where he serves as a lobbyist for issues including labor/employment policy, education, workforce development, local tax policy, international trade and immigration. He serves on the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Advisory Board, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children Board of Directors, Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Advisory Council and the Governing Board of the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau. Prior to joining the PA Chamber, Mr. Halper served as a legislative assistant in Washington, D.C. to former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. In this capacity, he worked on numerous areas of public policy, including transportation and infrastructure, homeland security and appropriations. Originally from Allentown, he graduated from the George Washington University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science.
 Joe D. Montenegro
, Government Affairs Counsel, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Joe Montenegro is Pennsylvania Farm Bureau's government affairs counsel, where his duties include drafting and analyzing proposed state and federal legislation, as well as managing Farm Bureau's grassroots policy development process. Mr. Montenegro also serves as Pennsylvania Farm Bureau's acting director for federal government affairs. In that role, he educates and engages Pennsylvania's congressional delegation on agricultural issues involving trade, labor, regulatory reform and infrastructure. Prior to joining Farm Bureau, Mr. Montenegro worked as a law clerk for two years at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. A graduate of Penn State Law, Mr. Montenegro is an Army veteran, having deployed twice to southern Afghanistan. He and his wife, Lizzet, reside in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
Bill Lane
, Executive Director, Trade For America.
A 40-year Caterpillar Veteran, Bill is the Executive Director of Trade For America, a coalition formed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Business Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to highlight the economic and strategic benefits of trade in the daily lives of Americans and to build support for existing trade agreements and pursuing new trade deals. He is also Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition which supports U.S. funding for diplomacy and development.
While at Caterpillar, Bill was responsible for the company's advocacy in support of competitiveness, trade liberalization and economic growth. From supporting free trade agreements to opposing unilateral sanctions and protectionist schemes, Bill has been center stage during many of the most contentious trade debates of the past three decades. He was also a company spokesman during the Cat-UAW labor dispute. From 2004 through 2015, Bill was named one of Washington's top corporate lobbyists by The Hill newspaper. In 2016, he was awarded the Washington International Trade Association's Lighthouse Award. Bill is a Penn State Alumni Fellow and chairs the Penn State Global Advisory Council. He is also a Wall Street Journal contributor.
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