U.S. and Mexico open USMCA review bilaterally, excluding Canada

The United States and Mexico formally launched the USMCA trade agreement review process on March 8, 2026, without Canada, opening bilateral scoping discussions focused on strengthening rules of origin and reducing dependence on non-regional imports. Under Article 34.7 of the USMCA, all three governments must decide by July 1, 2026, whether to extend the pact for 16 more years or allow it to expire. The bilateral start — with Canada expected to engage separately — represented a departure from the traditional trilateral framework that governed the original 2020 negotiations.