Democrat Governor Of Illinois Signs Trade Agreement With Mexico

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a trade agreement with teh state of Mexico, also known as Edomex, to distinguish it from the country of Mexico.

Pritzker signed the Illinois-Mexico Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) along with the State of Mexico Gov. Delfina Gómez Álvarez.

Pritzker Office stated the agreement was “a non-binding agreement between two or more parties that expresses an intent to cooperate – was between Illinois and the State of Mexico, one of 31 states that make up Mexico.”

Pritzker stated, “More than ever before, we must reassure our neighbors in Mexico that Illinois will remain a beacon of economic and cultural cooperation and opportunity for our people.”

Mexico is Illinois’ second largest international export partner.

Together, we exchange over $32B in trade annually, and Mexico supports nearly 200,000 jobs in our state.

And while our friendship goes back centuries, our trade mission is an opportunity to begin a new era.

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) March 30, 2025

📺ICYMI: ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi joined @FoxFriendsFirst to discuss Pritzker’s trade mission to Mexico as businesses and families alike flee the Prairie State⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LLGuZJnxy1

— IL Republican Party (@ILGOP) April 1, 2025

Check out what Fox Business reported:

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a trade agreement with the state of Mexico – commonly known as Edomex to distinguish it from the country as a whole – during a trip to the country on Monday, aiming to deepen economic cooperation.

Pritzker led the delegation of state officials and business leaders on a trade mission to Mexico, where he signed an addendum to the Illinois-Mexico Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) alongside the State of Mexico Gov. Delfina Gómez Álvarez.

Pritzker’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the MOU – a non-binding agreement between two or more parties that expresses an intent to cooperate – was between Illinois and the State of Mexico, one of 31 states that make up Mexico.

“Mexico has been an essential partner to the state of Illinois for decades, and I’m proud to stand alongside Governor Gómez Álvarez and assert the importance of this continuing relationship,” Pritzker said in a written statement. “More than ever before, we must reassure our neighbors in Mexico that Illinois will remain a beacon of economic and cultural cooperation and opportunity for our people.”

Pritzker and nearly 70 IL business & political leaders to Mexico
– billed as trade mission, also takes place as Trump tariffs are to go into effect & as ⁦@GovPritzker⁩ eyes ‘28 Prez race pic.twitter.com/WJVfytylj5

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) March 28, 2025

Per WCIA:

Governor JB Pritzker signed a memorandum of understanding between Mexico and Illinois on Monday during a trade mission.

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Pritzker signed the Addendum to the Illinois-Mexico Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) alongside Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez. The agreement signed by Pritzker affirms commitment to continued trade and manufacturing collaborations with a focus on biotechnology and water resources.

So….isn’t this blatantly in violation of the US Constitution?

ChatGPT says YES it is:

🛑 Constitutional Restrictions
Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution states:

“No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation…”
“No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports…”
“No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power…”
These clauses are very clear:

States cannot make treaties or agreements with foreign nations without Congressional approval.
They also cannot independently regulate trade with other nations (such as tariffs, duties, or formal trade pacts).
✅ What States Can Do (With Limitations)
While states can’t create binding trade agreements like the federal government can, they are allowed to engage in non-binding trade promotion activities, such as:

Hosting trade delegations
Opening trade offices abroad
Signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to promote cooperation (as long as they are not legally binding treaties)
Facilitating business connections between local firms and international markets
These types of interactions are generally tolerated as long as they don’t violate federal law or step into areas that are exclusively federal jurisdiction, such as customs duties, immigration, or foreign policy.

⚖️ Examples & Case Law
In U.S. Steel Corp. v. Multistate Tax Commission (1978), the Supreme Court clarified that states may cooperate with each other and even coordinate on issues, but not in a way that encroaches on federal powers or creates binding obligations with foreign entities.
California and New York, for example, often sign non-binding environmental or trade MOUs with other countries, but these are explicitly not treaties and have no enforcement power.

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🔍 Summary
Legally binding trade agreements with foreign countries? ❌ Unconstitutional without Congressional approval.
Informal trade promotion or cooperation efforts (non-binding)? ✅ Permissible within limits.