Election Update: Mexico’s New Government
On July 1, Mexico held its presidential election, with left-wing nationalist Andrés Manuel López Obrador winning 53 percent of the vote – the widest margin in Mexico’s democratic history. Obrador’s Morena party, formed just four years ago, also took control of both houses of Congress, in what many are viewing as a mandate for change from the Mexican people. On July 9, the Council hosted Gustavo Almaraz Petrie, a Council member and executive director of Grupo Estrategia Politica, a Mexico-based political consulting and lobbying firm, to discuss the election results and their implications.
What does this mean for public affairs in the region? According to Gustavo, Obrador’s administration will have a positive relationship with the private sector. However, bottom-up public affairs will become ever more important, and public affairs functions operating in Mexico should prioritize state-level and grassroots engagement, as well as an in-depth stakeholder mapping exercises. Businesses with a presence in Mexico should also work to maintain the highest principles of transparency, look for public policy allies in associations and chambers, and add a social component to their public affairs agendas.
The chart below from Edelman gives guidance on working with the new Mexican government.[/vc_toggle][vc_btn title=”Click to view the infographic” color=”juicy-pink” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-picture-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fpac.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FEdelman-chart.jpg||target:%20_blank|”][vc_separator]
Washington at the Center of Global Public Affairs
Public affairs is a global profession, yet, companies must pick and choose where to locate their staff based on priority markets and budget restrictions. Washington has become a hub for global public affairs professionals, and many Council members have staff members with the word “global” or “international” working in D.C.
What are the best practices for working with D.C.’s various stakeholders? According to Debra Waggoner, Council member and director of global government affairs at Corning, those working in Washington need to take advantage of who and what is around them. Get to know the experts on issues of importance to your company, and use your colleagues, industry allies and associations to drive the message you want to send to policymakers. One of Debra’s tips is “don’t overlook the embassies,” as they can be an important resource for arranging meetings with country-specific representatives, expediting logistical resolutions and making your company’s voice heard on a global scale.[/vc_toggle][vc_separator]
Program Spotlight: D.C. Study Tour
After last year’s success, the Council is excited to offer the D.C. Study Tour again this year. This three-day program, taking place October 1 – 3, will provide participants with insights on policy issues, public affairs trends and how global companies are affected by Washington’s key stakeholders. This year’s tour will also focus on lobbying regulations, best-practice advocacy strategies and engagement tactics that can take your global public affairs work to the next level.
In addition to site visits with the Washington Post, the World Bank, the Danish Embassy, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and others, Council staff experts will also lead sessions on digital advocacy, grassroots, and managing business risk in today’s fluctuating political environment. The Study Tour is a great program for Council members who work in international public affairs and need to better understand how Washington works in order for their function to be successful.
We hope you will join us! Take advantage of the early bird rate and register here. For more information, please contact Global Public Affairs Manager, Dasha Iventicheva.
Upcoming Executive Education Programs
International Network Briefing: Transatlantic Trends
September 6, 2018
What are the latest trans-Atlantic trends and what do they mean for your international public affairs function? Join the Council for an International Network breakfast briefing that will cover the challenges and opportunities so far in 2018, and what to expect through the end of the year.
Workshop: Global Issues Tracking
September 18, 2018
Issues tracking and management is a pillar of a strong external affairs function. In this two-hour workshop, industry experts will discuss how to create a consistent and centralized internal issues tracking and management process, what effective internal issues communication strategy looks like, and which internal key stakeholders you must work with in order to create a successful issues tracking process.
Workshop: Strategic Planning for Global Advocacy
October 25, 2018
How should global advocacy campaigns be incorporated into your organization’s strategic planning process? This workshop will focus on the basics of creating an international public affairs plan, defining a global advocacy strategy and implementing effective campaigns in non-U.S. markets. Participants will discuss several case studies to identify key tactics of effective campaigns.
Workshop: ROI of Global Public Affairs
November 14, 2018
Reporting on global public affairs initiatives is becoming more in-demand from senior leadership and the C-suite. It’s also one of the toughest internal challenges for many industry practitioners. Join the Council for a two-hour workshop that will discuss measurement and value case studies, as well as how public affairs can be better understood as a function across the business.
International Trade Update
According to some, “tariffs are the greatest.” However, many companies are starting to feel the negative consequences of the trade war being waged between the United States and former trade allies like the EU and China. In an attempt to monitor the quickly-spreading effects of tariffs, Bloomberg has compiled a tariff tracker, which updates how global companies have so far been affected – both positively and negatively.
The current administration’s recent trade actions have created a “lobbying blitz” in D.C. However, traditional lobbying tactics haven’t been as effective as they were with previous administrations. Lobbyists are turning to media, Twitter and their associations to emphasize the negative effects their industries are likely to feel as a result of this trade war. For a more detailed update on international trade, read Council member McLarty’s summaries on what to expect on retaliatory tariffs and the U.S. Section 301 investigation.