The director of International Trade at UNCTAD, Luz María de la Mora, said in an interview published on November 2, 2026, that Latin America should not choose between the United States and China, but rather diversify its trade and investment ties. The recommendation comes as the reorganization of global supply chains shifts the region's place in world trade.

The interview took place during the World Investment Forum 2026, held in Doha from October 25 to 27. More than 7,000 participants attended the meeting, along with four heads of government and more than 60 ministers, according to The Peninsula Qatar. For Mexico, the approach has direct implications: the United States is its main trading partner under the USMCA, and China is gaining weight as a supplier of inputs and as a destination for specific exports. The official described how both economies compete and at the same time produce jointly.

The central argument is about specialization, not self-sufficiency. Nearly two-thirds of international trade occurs within supply chains, and the opportunity lies in identifying which segment of production each country participates in, De la Mora explained to Bloomberg Línea. She cited copper, an input for the energy transition, and lithium, with room for refining, processing and services associated with extraction. She also mentioned mining machinery developed in Chile and Peruvian agricultural exports. On public policy, she listed clear rules for investors, logistics and telecommunications infrastructure, and customs that facilitate integration: "Customs must be seen as a support for the integration of these countries into supply chains," she said.

The forum closed with 20 actions in six priority areas, including investment governance, artificial intelligence and sustainability, according to Al Jazeera. The Doha action framework includes follow-up over the next five years. For Mexico, the agenda described by UNCTAD focuses on two fronts: its position in North American supply chains and its capacity to add value in critical minerals and services.

This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.