A San Diego-backed bill to create a California trade office in Mexico City passed the Legislature on Wednesday and heads to Gov. Jerry Brown for signature.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. Ben Hueso of Chula Vista and backed by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“Given the uncertain message from the current federal Administration regarding the importance of our trading partnership with Mexico, it is vital that California open and maintain and ongoing presence in Mexico City to reassure their civic and business leaders that the people of California value our trade relationship and an open dialogue,” said Hueso, whose 40th district stretches along the Mexican border from Imperial Beach to the Arizona border.
The bill would require the Mexico City trade and investment office to promote the export of California goods and services into Mexico, and facilitate access to educational exchange programs between California and Mexico.
In 2015, an estimated 692,00 California jobs were dependent on trade with Mexico, according to Hueso’s office, and his bill is widely supported in the San Diego business community.
“Our economy benefits greatly from a close working relationship with Mexico’s business community and we see the value this bi-national relationship brings in terms of new jobs, which is why the San Diego Chamber is proud to sponsor SB 357,” said Jerry Sanders, president and CEO of the chamber.
