The agreement between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg that preceded the European Community, known as BENELUX, has served as inspiration for the countries of North America. Mexico, Canada, and the United States could benefit from a supranational force that unifies their customs policies and monitors law enforcement for the common good.
One of the main concerns is to prevent Mexico from being used as a springboard for Chinese goods into the United States, as well as to strengthen the northern border to combat drug exports and arms trafficking. These actions could strengthen production chains and the Mexico, United States, and Canada Agreement (T-MEC).
However, the question arises whether the United States and Canada would be willing to engage in dialogue with a government accused of having ties to organized crime. The Mexican president would play a crucial role in dissociating from these accusations and bringing to justice any officials linked to drug trafficking.
The ideological differences between allied governments make it difficult to coordinate regional interests above others. A customs union would be a significant step in the economic integration of the region, but the United States and Canada criticize Mexico for alleged unfair trade practices with China.
This scenario raises the need to strengthen cooperation among the three countries to compete in the global market. While the United States faces internal and external challenges, customs unification could be a viable option for the region. Tariffs should not be the end but a means to achieve greater integration and collaboration in North America.
