Port of Laredo invites stakeholders to 2026 Global Trade Summit to showcase the inland port

Felipe Romero of Port Laredo Marketing formally invited the Port of Laredo Port of Entry Advisory Committee to the Port of Laredo Global Trade Summit scheduled for July 2026, saying the event was built from broad stakeholder input and is designed to bring trade, infrastructure and policy conversations to Laredo.

The summit, Romero said, is the product of outreach to more than 200 industry, government and community stakeholders; 78% of respondents indicated they wanted a summit. Romero said the program will include keynote speakers, industry panels and cross-border dialogue intended to attract national and international media and visiting delegates.

"Laredo already moves 350,000,000,000 plus annually as the number 1 inland port in the United States," Romero said, urging local leaders to attend, promote the event and consider sponsorship or participation. He said organizers expect a substantial share of attendees to come from outside Laredo and that the event will use the LISD Performing Arts Center and a nearby host hotel to create a conference destination.

Committee members asked about speaker lists and whether government officials would be invited alongside private-sector participants. Romero said the program is still being finalized and includes more than 16 confirmed speakers so far, with a total expected near two dozen. He directed members to portlaredo.com/tradesummit for posted program details and registration.