Mexico City, May 12 (Reuters) – The planned 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Treaty (USMCA) may begin sooner than expected, according to Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard.
Speaking at an event on Monday, Ebrard said he expects the review process to begin in the second half of this year.
The USMCA, which came into effect in 2020 during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, replacing NAFTA, includes a clause requiring the three countries to jointly review the agreement after six years. It includes.
Trump had called for the agreement to be renegotiated earlier than planned, arguing that the US should obtain more advantageous trade terms. This approach led to concerns about the implementation of tariffs and their impact on the global economy.
Despite trade tensions, the USMCA remains in effect. However, some tariffs imposed by the US have negatively impacted some of Mexico’s export products, such as steel and automobiles.
Ebrard stated that a possible early review could be advantageous for Mexico, as it would allow the agreement to be compared with trade arrangements in other regions. He also noted that negotiations are currently underway to obtain better conditions for exporting steel, aluminum, automobiles, and tomatoes to the US.
