WASHINGTON, D.C. - Duncan Wood, CEO of Hurst International Consulting LLC, has penned a new guest column for the Wilson Center.
The column is titled: “Canada and Mexico in a Moment of Strategic Choice.” In the column, Wood points out that as the 2026 USMCA review approaches, Canada and Mexico are launching a new bilateral "action plan" to deepen economic integration and coordinate on strategic sectors like critical minerals and energy to ensure continental stability.
Wood said the USMCA review can be seen as stress test for North America.
One of the sub-headlines is titled: A Bilateral Relationship Long on Promise, Short on Delivery. But the last one is titled, Why This Moment May Be Different.
Here are the opening three paragraphs:
As North America approaches the 2026 review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), uncertainty has become the defining feature of the continental economic landscape. Against this backdrop, recent discussions between Mexico and Canada to expand and deepen their bilateral economic relationship take on new significance.
For Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who met in September 2025, the first question is whether USMCA will survive. If it does, the next questions to ask, are what kind of agreement it will be after 2026, and how much friction national economies and private firms must absorb along the way. In that context, government representatives and more than 400 private companies from the two countries met in Mexico City in February to launch a new bilateral initiative to deepen their economic ties.
Mexican Secretary of the Economy Marcelo Ebrard announced the initiative following a meeting with Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for Canada–US trade, intergovernmental affairs, and the Canadian economy. The discussions centered on strengthening bilateral economic ties at a moment of uncertainty in North America. After the meeting, Ebrard explained that both governments are preparing a formal “action plan” aimed at expanding bilateral investment, increasing trade flows, reducing regulatory barriers, and facilitating commercial integration between the two countries.
Editor’s Note: Click here to read Wood’s analysis in full.
Duncan Wood has held senior positions at the Washington, D.C., based Wilson Center, including vice president for strategy and new initiatives and director of Center’s Mexico Institute. He is currently Visiting Fellow for North America at the center.
Here his is biography:
Duncan Wood, Ph.D., is a globally recognized expert on international affairs, North American cooperation, and strategic supply chains. He is the CEO of Hurst International Consulting LLC and previously served as President of the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles. With over three decades of experience spanning academia, think tank leadership, and civil society engagement, Dr. Wood has shaped public discourse on issues ranging from trade and energy to critical minerals and geopolitical risk.
Dr. Wood has held senior positions including Vice President for Strategy & New Initiatives at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., where he directed the Center’s Mexico Institute. He has advised governments, corporations, and multilateral institutions on economic competitiveness, sustainability, and regional integration. A political economist by training, he has authored numerous reports and op-eds and frequently provides commentary in English and Spanish-language media.
Originally from the U.K., Dr. Wood earned his B.A. Hons in Politics from the University of Leicester, his M.A. from McMaster University and his Ph.D. in Political Studies from Queen’s University, both in Canada. He spent two decades in Mexico as a professor at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and continues to promote cross-border collaboration through his consultancy work.
A passionate advocate for smart policy, inclusive dialogue, and evidence-based solutions, Dr. Wood has testified before U.S. Congress and contributed to policy reforms in multiple countries. His current work focuses on the intersection of energy, technology, and national security in the Americas. He was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Leicester for his contributions to International Relations and is a Global Ambassador for the university’s Institute of Policy.
