International Affairs
The work of state government officials often stretches beyond state lines and, for many states, beyond international borders. CSG's international program has a number of initiatives to increase cooperation between U.S. states, Canadian provinces, Mexico, and nations overseas. International exchange missions and innovative cross-border initiatives such as the U.S.-Mexico State Alliance, Border Legislative Conference, and the Eastern Trade Council bring international neighbours and elected officials together to find solutions to shared challenges.
CSG Resolutions on Trade and Export Promotion
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Resolution on the US-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement
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Open and Reciprocal Trade
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Proposed Federal Export Promotion Legislation
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Resolution on Export Promotion
International Exchange Missions
International travel and legislative exchanges expose state decision-makers to valuable best practices and provide opportunities to explore how global trends affect policy-making in the United States. Each year, the CSG-DC office coordinates a delegation of state leaders to travel abroad to explore a variety of policy topics such as energy, economic development, environment, research & development, healthcare, education, justice, transportation, and culture. Past destinations have included Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, China, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa, Poland, Belgium, and France.
U.S. – Mexico State Alliance
The U.S.-Mexico State Alliance Partnership is a collaborative, multi-branch program aimed at strengthening cooperation among state officials and institutions of both countries. The Partnership promotes and convenes binational exchanges among border legislators, attorneys general, treasurers, Lt. Governors and other officials to enhance the role of state officials to address shared public policy concerns that transcend international borders. The Alliance Partnership promotes the integration of activities and outreach with other binational mechanisms so that concrete policy objectives and reforms can be achieved through a strategic, multi-branch and multi-jurisdictional approach.
Border Legislative Conference
The Border Legislative Conference (BLC) is administered by the Council of State Governments (CSG)-WEST and its regional partner in the South, the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC). This program serves as a mechanism for on-going dialogue and collaboration among state legislators of the United States and Mexico. The goal of the project is to empower border state legislators to engage in the binational agenda and provide input and direction in the development of policy between both countries.