Subnational Champion or Chief Cat Herder?

The US appoints envoy in recognition of city and state diplomacy

In October 2022, the United States appointed Ambassador Nina Hachigian as the first-ever Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy. Hachigian, who previously served as the first Deputy Mayor for International Affairs for the City of Los Angeles, is responsible for supporting U.S. interests “by integrating local ideas into foreign policy and fostering connections among cities, municipalities, and communities in the United States and abroad.” The role has sparked some chin-stroking about the reasons behind it and whether other federations, like Canada and Australia, should follow suit.

Over the past two decades, subnational governments in the US have become central players in international diplomacy. Many states have established well-resourced international departments, often complemented by a large number of foreign outposts.

While promoting trade and investment has been common practice, states and cities have ventured into areas of international policy traditionally the purview of the federal government, including climate change, immigration, and even security. For example, the Conference of Border Governors, which includes governors from the four US states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) and six Mexican states (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas), established a cross-border security working group. The group shares intelligence and coordinates law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other transnational crimes.

Read the full article on our “States of Trade” blog.