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Two strategies: China and Mexico pursue different strategies to retain critical trade relationships with the United States.

Article Excerpt
"If you know little, stick to what is surest in each profession. People may not consider you ingenious, but they will think you solid." wrote the 16th century Jesuit priest Baltasar Gracian.

For obvious reasons we are living in a business era where our markets are borderless and knowledge about opportunities must be accessed culturally, politically, economically and geographically.

Just as Mexico has been sacked, robbed and exploited by foreign invaders throughout its history, the Chinese have as well. Both countries' histories have had great times of prosperity followed by long periods of political and economic upheavals. Now, Mexico's biggest challenge is coming from China's low manufacturing labor cost, which has already lured some companies from Mexico to China.

The following article is based on recent visits to Mexico and China. I had the opportunity to visit manufacturing Facilities in both countries and, with the following analysis, I have attempted to provide the reader with a broader view of two of the most important trading partners the United States has ever had.

EMERGING ECONOMY. China is clearly the major emerging power of the 21st century. By contrast, Mexico has become integrated into the economic force that is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that it is now part of the largest trading block in the world.

China has been accused of keeping its currency artificially low, avoiding the open floating economic mechanism. Americans now believe China's low...