Mark R. Kennedy

Strategic Competition: Economic

Economic Engagement with Latin America

Research Focus

Authentically nearshore (vs being a conduit for Chinese intermediate goods) highly labor-intensive segments of critical supply chains

See "MDBs, DFIs, Development Finance" webpage regarding significantly expanding support for private investment throughout the region.

Events and Pubications

Engaging Inter American Development Bank and Ecuador

Meeting at Inter American Development Bank (IDB) - August 9, 2024

Thanks to Roberto Izurieta, Alternate Executive Director of the IDB, and Paul Quirk (on right) for hosting an engaging discussion with Soledad Peña Plaza (center), Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Ecuador to the US. Joined by The Wilson Center colleagues Facundo Robles and Margaret Myers (next to me)

DESPITE TARIFFS, CHINESE EV MAKERS STILL MAKE INROADS

QUOTED IN VOA ARTICLE - AUGUST 1, 2024

Kennedy said that there is sharp focus from “both the [Biden] administration and Congress that we not allow USMCA to be a back door for Chinese goods that we were otherwise hoping to not be included in American supply chain.”

SECURING SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAINS IN LATIN AMERICA

BRIEFING TO NEW DEMOCRATS CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE - MAY 22, 2024

Briefed Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07) with Wilson Center colleagues Benjamin Gedan, Kellee Wicker and Diego Marroquin.

COMPETITION FOR THE GLOBAL SOUTH: DOES THE U.S. HAVE A VALUE PROPOSITION?

PANELIST AT US CHAMBER CHINA BUSINESS CONFERENCE - MAY 8, 2024

AMERICA IS TALKING ABOUT FRIENDSHORING, CHINA IS DOING IT

TESTIMONY TO US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE - MAY 2, 2024

REFORMING MDBS FOR GLOBAL STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

WILSON CENTER PANEL DISCUSSION - JULY 19, 2023

Conversation with Francisco Sagasti, former President of the Republic of Peru, and Alexia Latortue, Assistant Secretary for International Trade and Development, US Department of the Treasury.

BUILDING A COMPETITIVE US-MEXICO BORDER CONFERENCE

WILSON CENTER CONFERENCE - JUNE 21, 2023

Photo with Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and leadership of the Mexico Institute - Lila Abed and Andrew Rudman.

SPEECH: PATH FORWARD FOR USMCA

SPEECH TO HOPE BINATIONAL FELLOWSHIP - MAY 24, 2023

CHINA’S TIES TO HONDURAS SHOW ITS INCREASING INFLUENCE

NEWSNATION LIVE INTERVIEW, MARCH 27, 2023

STRATEGIC COMPETITION CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING TRADE IN THE AMERICAS

OP-ED IN THE HILL, JANUARY 21, 2023

Narrowing in to understand the trade relationships between China and strategic sectors in the Western Hemisphere should be a fundamental task for [the China select] committee and the 118th Congress to undertake. Ideally, this would lead to actionable results providing tangible economic opportunities for the U.S. and its partners in the region.