Hosted by the Brookings Institution and the University of Calgary

North America is often understood through national politics, yet its future is increasingly being shaped by states, provinces, local communities, and a new generation of leaders. The evolution of the trade landscape over the last two years has affected investment and business decisions across the continent. At the same time, the inclusion of non-trade issues in USMCA negotiations has highlighted questions about how we want the North American relationship to look like beyond the trade partnership. Drawing on current field research, innovative polling techniques, and gamification exercises across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, this panel explores how new approaches to understanding and engaging communities beyond the capitals can foster more meaningful participation amid generational, political, and socioeconomic change.

The conversation will discuss what the data and research show about what communities and emerging leaders expect from North American cooperation, and how this new approach could be applied more broadly.