Texas, Mexico: ties that bind
As the presidential election heads into the final stretch and we make plans for a trade mission to Mexico, it’s safe to say that the relationship between Texas (and the Greater Houston region) and Mexico has become a key area of focus for leaders across the political spectrum.
It is critical for voters to understand the impact of our country’s relationship with Mexico, particularly in the Greater Houston area, as the dialogue around issues like national security, immigration and trade continue to unfold. As the leading regional advocate for the economic and civic interests of the Houston Hispanic business community and the largest Hispanic Chamber in the nation, we are very proud of the contributions that close to 90,000 Hispanic-owned businesses have made in Harris County, as well as the long-standing economic benefits and cultural ties between Houston and Mexico.
From the 42 percent of local Hispanicowned small businesses in our city to the more than $94 billion in goods our state exports to Mexico annually, these businesses truly underscore the value of our cross-border commerce. In fact, more than 1,100 companies in the Houston region have business ties with Mexico, and trade with Mexico is directly responsible for more than 460,000 Texas jobs and sustains more than 6 million American jobs at large — many of which are right here in Houston.
The Port of Houston — one of our key economic engines — remains the busiest waterborne gateway for U.S. and Mexico trade.
Additionally, our relationship only stands to grow stronger because as the nation’s energy capital, we will be direct beneficiaries of Mexican energy reforms that have opened up the country’s oil reserves to energy and exploration companies that call Houston home.
The Texas-Mexico relationship goes beyond just economic impact. Demographically, Houston is home to the fourth largest Mexican-American population in the United States making up almost 44 percent of Houston’s population. As such, they have been an influential source that have made a profound impact on the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the Texas-Mexico relationship socially and culturally.
With Election Day rapidly approaching, it’s important that voters have a clear picture of the influence that our relationship with Mexico has on our everyday lives. From the food we eat, the work we do or the heritage we share, Mexico’s influence on our region has been and will continue to be key to our future prosperity. Our success in a global economy depends on cooperation, not isolation.