US, Mexico Launch USMCA Review Talks

The United States and Mexico held an initial meeting on March 16 to begin the formal review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), launching the process required ahead of the July 2026 deadline for determining whether to extend the agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard led the discussions, which focused on establishing the framework for the review.

According to officials, the two sides agreed to proceed with a structured work plan that will include ongoing technical-level discussions and issue-specific engagement. Early conversations centered on implementation of existing provisions and identifying areas for potential adjustment, including rules of origin, supply chain integration, and overall agreement performance since USMCA entered into force.

The review process is expected to begin with bilateral discussions before transitioning to a trilateral format that includes Canada. U.S. officials have indicated that additional meetings with Canadian counterparts are anticipated in the near term. Preparatory discussions between USTR Greer and Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc on March 6 addressed both the upcoming review and broader bilateral trade issues.

At the same time, U.S. officials continue to signal that renewal of USMCA is not automatic. In recent congressional testimony, Greer emphasized that the United States will seek changes as part of the review, reinforcing expectations that the process could lead to revisions in key areas of the agreement.