The United States and Mexico are officially beginning the preliminary stages of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review process, with bilateral discussions set to launch the week of March 16, 2026.
According to a joint announcement from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, the upcoming meetings serve as a “scoping discussion” for the mandatory six-year joint review required by the agreement.
Key Objectives of the Review:
- Regional Prioritization: Negotiators have been tasked with ensuring that the benefits of the USMCA remain within North America.
- Reducing External Reliance: A major focus will be on decreasing dependence on imports from outside the region, particularly from non-party nations like China.
- Strengthening Rules: The parties aim to bolster “rules of origin” and enhance the security of North American supply chains.
- Seafood and Trade Impact: For industries like the seafood trade, this review is critical as it will address market access, labor standards, and the potential for new tariffs or trade barriers that could disrupt established export-import flows.
Background and Timeline:
The USMCA, which replaced NAFTA in 2020, includes a “sunset clause” that requires a formal review every six years. By July 1, 2026, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada must decide whether to extend the agreement for another 16-year term.
While Canada is a full party to the agreement, the current phase focuses on bilateral coordination between the U.S. and Mexico to align their positions before the full trilateral review later this summer. The Trump administration has indicated that this process will be a rigorous assessment rather than a routine check-in, with a July 1 deadline to notify Congress of any intent to seek significant changes.