* Crain’s…

Gov. JB Pritzker is leading a trade mission to Mexico from Sunday through Wednesday focused on agriculture, finance and manufacturing.

The trip to Mexico City follows a delegation to Japan last fall and comes as trade tensions between the U.S. and Mexico are worsening. The Trump administration said March 26 it will impose 25% tariffs on imported cars and parts.

Mexico, which is the state’s second-largest export market with nearly $13 billion in trade in 2024, also is the largest exporter of vehicles and parts to the United States. […]

Agriculture products top the list of Illinois exports to Mexico, followed by chemicals and transportation equipment. Illinois was the fourth-largest importer from Mexico among the states at $19 billion last year. The largest categories are beverages and tobacco, transportation equipment, and electrical equipment, appliances and components.

* Governor Pritzker…

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), and Intersect Illinois, joined by public and private sector leaders from across the state, will lead a trade mission to Mexico from March 30-April 2, 2025.

This trade mission will focus on the importance of deepening economic ties and fostering greater cooperation between the State of Illinois and Mexico. The delegation will engage with Mexican counterparts to discuss enhancing collaboration in key sectors such as agriculture and food processing, finance, and manufacturing, all of which are vital to growing the Illinois economy and creating jobs. Through this mission, Illinois seeks to strengthen its longstanding partnership with Mexico, paving the way for future investment and shared success. […]

Trade mission delegation members include:

JB Pritzker, State of Illinois, Governor
Juliana Stratton, State of Illinois, Lt. Governor
MK Pritzker, State of Illinois, First Lady
Bryan Echols, State of Illinois, Second Gentleman
Anne Caprara, Office of Governor JB Pritzker, Chief of Staff
Andy Manar, Office of Governor JB Pritzker, Deputy Governor
Claire Lindberg, Office of Governor JB Pritzker, First Assistant Deputy Governor
Andrea Vallejo, Office of Governor JB Pritzker, Senior Special Projects Officer
Natashee Scott, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Chief of Staff
Teresa Reyes, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer
Kristin Richards, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Director
Cas Peters, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Chief Business Attraction Officer
Omar Mendoza, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Managing Director of the Latin America & Caribbean Regional Trade Office
Jerry Costello, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Director
Bobby Dowson, Illinois Department of Agriculture, International Marketing Manager
Carlos Cruz, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Director
Celina Villanueva, Illinois State Senate, State Senator
Cristina Castro, Illinois State Senate, State Senator, Majority Caucus Whip
Elgie Sims, Illinois State Senate, State Senator, Appropriations Leader
Elizabeth Hernandez, Illinois House of Representatives, State Representative, Deputy Majority Leader
Robyn Gabel, Illinois House of Representatives, State Representative, Majority Leader
John Atkinson, Intersect Illinois, Chairman
Christy George, Intersect Illinois, President & CEO
Paulina San Millan, Intersect Illinois, Senior Vice President of Business Development
Robin Ficke, Intersect Illinois, Senior Vice President of Research
Cathriona McGuire Fey, Intersect Illinois, Vice President of Clean Energy and Manufacturing
Reyna Torres Mendivil, Consul General, Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago, Ambassador
Adrian J “AJ” DeLeón, Innovare, CEO
Robert Karr Jr., Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Partner
Carly McCrory-McKay, Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and iFAB Tech Hub Executive Director & Chief Partnerships Officer
Chris Setti, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, CEO & Founding Partner
Craig Meyer, JLL, President
Dan Lynch, United Airlines, Vice President, State and Local Government Affairs
Daniel Gamba, Northern Trust, President of Asset Management
David Reifman, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres, Partner
Doug Pryor, Will County Center for Economic Development, President & CEO
Elizabeth “Betsy” Ziegler, 1871, CEO
Federico Gorbea, Archer Daniels Midland, President for North Latin America
Gil Quiniones, ComEd, President & CEO
Greg Bedalov , Choose DuPage, President & CEO
Guillermo Garcia, GSG Consulting, Inc., President
Jack Lavin, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, President & CEO
Jaime di Paulo, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, President & CEO
James Reynolds, Loop Capital, Chairman & CEO
Jennifer Aguilar, Little Village Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County, County Executive
Jennifer Tirey, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Executive Director
Jesse Ruiz, The Vistria Group, LP Partner, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
John Lumpe, Illinois Soybean Association, CEO
John Lyons, DLA Piper, Partner
Joseph Dominguez, Constellation, President & CEO
Josh St. Peters, Illinois Beef Association, Executive Vice President
Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago, Chancellor
Kaitlin Fahey, Magnify Strategies, CEO & Founding Partner
Kara Demirjian-Huss, TCCI Manufacturing & DCC Marketing, Owner & Senior Vice President
Kyle Kamin, CBRE, Vice Chairman
Leonard Singh, Ameren Illinois, Chairman & President
Lisa Freeman, Northern Illinois University, President
Maria Bocanegra, Peoples Gas & North Shore Gas, President
Mark Denzler, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, President & CEO
Martin Cabrera, Cabrera Capital Markets, CEO
Martin Montes, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Partner
Meredith O’Connor, JLL, International Director
Nicole Bateman, Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & iFAB Tech Hub, President & Chief Strategy Officer
Oswaldo Alvarez, Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation, Executive Director
Patrick Hoban, Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, CEO
Rob Karr, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, President & CEO
Rodney Weinzierl, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Executive Director
Ryan McCrady, Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, President & CEO
Sandy Hart, Lake County, Chairperson
Timothy Killeen, University of Illinois System, President
Wendell Dallas, Nicor Gas, President & CEO

“As a Mexican American founder of an investment firm, it is an honor to be part of Governor Pritzker’s timely trade mission to Mexico,” said Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital. “Trade supports over 800,000 jobs in Illinois, and our firm values businesses that support international cooperation and investments that benefit working families at home. I look forward to joining Governor Pritzker and leaders from across the state as we deepen cooperation and economic ties.”

…Adding… This trip has been contemplated for at least two years…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to return to Chicago on Thursday after a seven-day trip to Great Britain aimed at advancing Illinois’ economic development goals, including in clean energy and technology — his second major international trip this year.

And the Democratic governor has hinted that more trips — including travel to Israel, Mexico and Asia — are in the works.