United States, Mexico, And Canada Set Markers For Renewal Of North American Trade Agreement

In late May, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that U.S. and Mexican officials had agreed to hold a series of bilateral negotiating rounds over the next two months related to the first joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a press release, the office of the USTR said negotiations will focus on ensuring that USMCA benefits U.S. manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, workers, and service suppliers and businesses of all sizes.

The specific dates negotiators will meet are:

• On May 28-29, Deputy USTR Ambassador Jeff Goettman led a U.S. delegation to Mexico City for the first bilateral negotiating round with Mexico, which featured negotiations on economic security and rules of origin for key industrial goods.
• On June 16-17, the two countries will hold a second round of discussions in Washington, D.C. that will include discussions regarding agriculture.
• During the week of July 20, the United States and Mexico will hold a third negotiating round in Mexico City.

After the first meeting in late May, leaders from Mexico formally notified their U.S. counterparts and Canadian officials that they wish to extend the USMCA for an additional 16 years, until 2042. Mexican official are reportedly also seeking to have U.S. steel tariffs lifted as part of the review of the USMCA.

Canadian officials also have formally requested to the U.S. and Mexican governments that the USMCA be extended until 2042. The United States and Canada have not yet begun formal talks regarding USMCA renewal, but, as The Guardian reported, in a speech on May 28 in New York City, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a new relationship between his country and the United States that reimagines cooperation in specific sectors challenged by global competition.

“Canada strong will help make America great again,” the prime minister said. “The examples are legion where we should work together and compete with the world together. And to those ends, we have made specific, practical proposals to the U.S. administration.” Specifically, Prime Minister Carney suggested Canada should be a key supplier to the United States of critical minerals like potash, nickel, copper, and uranium. The Canadian leader also very briefly touched on tariffs on industrial metals like aluminum.

Read his full remarks at this link.