Assemblymembers Alvarez and Solache Host Joint Hearing on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact in Chula Vista.

Chula Vista, CA – Today, Assemblymember David Alvarez (D–San Diego), Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on California–Mexico Bi-National Affairs, and Assemblymember José Luis Solache (D–Lynwood), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact (EDGHI), co-hosted a joint informational hearing at Chula Vista City Hall to explore the USMCA treaty’s effects across California’s regions and industries.

The hearing, titled “USMCA: Will California’s Economy Survive or Thrive Under a Renegotiated Trade Agreement with Mexico?,” brought together policy experts, stakeholders, researchers, and industry leaders to examine the treaty’s potential impacts on California’s workforce, on industries that rely on cross-border commuting, and on sectors heavily dependent on imports.

Panelists included Dr. Rafael Fernández de Castro, Director of the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at UC San Diego; Kenia Zamarripa, Vice President of International & Public Affairs at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; and representatives from the California Trucking Association (CTA) and the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

“The USMCA has a profound effect on California, and it is crucial that we examine both its impacts and the potential opportunities that a renegotiation may offer,” said Assemblymember David Alvarez. “This treaty affects not only the district I represent, but also the many jobs and industries that rely on trade, including the movement of goods and import–export commerce.”

Assemblymember Alvarez emphasized that understanding the effects of the USMCA treaty on California requires examining both the potential opportunities, such as expanded cross-border collaboration and new trade openings for the state’s industries, and the potential risks, including identifying sectors most vulnerable under renegotiated terms.

“As new trade agreements reshape the North American economy, California must lead with strong binational partnerships,” said Assemblymember José Luis Solache. “The CaliBaja region shows what’s possible when education, workforce, and industry work across borders. I’m honored to join Assemblymember Alvarez in ensuring these agreements translate into real opportunities for California students, workers, and families”.

The joint hearing is one of the activities organized by the Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs to promote cooperation between the State of California and Mexico. The Chula Vista hearing focused on the agreement’s impact on the state’s broader economy and provided a platform for various industries and stakeholders to share their perspectives on the potential implications for California as the USMCA renegotiations approach next year.

A recording of the hearing can be viewed online in the Assembly Event Archive<https://www.assembly.ca.gov/events/today>.