USMCA To Enter Into Force On July 1, 2020

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has notified members of the U.S. Congress that Canada and Mexico have taken measures necessary to comply with their commitments under the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA) and that, as a result, the USMCA will enter into force on July 1, 2020. Following the notification to Congress, the United States became the third country to notify the other parties that it had completed its domestic procedures to implement the agreement, which is the final step necessary for the USMCA to enter into force.

On April 21, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued USMCA interim implementing instructions for the USMCA, which can be accessed here. The instructions are intended to be informational and provide early guidance on the new requirements under the USMCA, including information on claiming USMCA preferential treatment for goods. The final instructions will be released before July 1.

Also last week: President Donald Trump issued an executive order creating an interagency committee to monitor and enforce labor provisions of the USCMA, as required by the law to implement the trade agreement. The U.S. Trade Representative and the secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor will co-chair the panel, which also will include representatives from the departments of State, Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce, and Homeland Security, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development.