Meridian Global Business Briefing with Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs

The Honorable Francisco Sánchez (Holland & Knight), Ambassador Brian Nichols (Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State) and Ms. Alexandra Valderrama (Chevron) pose for a picture ahead of the Global Business Briefing on June 15, 2022

On June, 15 2022, the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with Chevron to host Ambassador Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs for a ‘Readout of the Summit of the Americas and update on U.S. Strategy in the Western Hemisphere’. The conversation was moderated by The Honorable Francisco Sanchez, former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Administration 

In September of 2021, Brian A. Nichols was confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Ambassador Nichols is a career Foreign Service Officer, beginning his career in 1989 as a consular officer in Peru. Since then, Ambassador Nichols has gone on to serve in multiple capacities, assisting in facilitating U.S. interests abroad. His most recent positions include his tenures as U.S. Ambassador to both Peru and Zimbabwe prior to serving in his current role.   

Ambassador Nichols gave a summary of the major outcomes of the Summit of the Americas as well as outlining the Biden Administration’s priorities for the region. The Summit stressed cooperation among the Americas as key to maintain economic and social prosperity within the Americas. In a commitment to ensure cooperation, the U.S. joined multiple multilateral partnerships such as the Partnership for Economic Prosperity and the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. These projects will create a unified response to combat the most pressing issues in the region such as food security and data privacy through supply chain harmonization and sustainable energy production. Additionally, the U.S. announced plans to invest in infrastructure projects abroad using both public and private sectors and committing to breaking down barriers to foreign investments abroad. Ultimately, the Biden Administration believes that when U.S. corporations succeed abroad, the U.S. and its partners, in turn, succeed. 

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Project summary

Meridian Global Business Briefing with Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs | June 2022
Number of Attendees: 26
Regions: Western Hemisphere
Impact Areas: Business and Trade, Energy and the Environment, Foreign Policy
Program Areas: Diplomatic Engagement
Partners: Private Sector
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