On July 1, 2026, the United States, Mexico, and Canada convened the first mandatory Joint Review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), as required under the Agreement’s review provision. Following that meeting, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that the United States did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form.
AzDEC is disappointed by this outcome and will continue to advocate for renewal. At the same time, we want to be clear about what this determination does, and does not, mean:
- The Agreement remains in full force and effect. Nothing about the current terms of USMCA has changed. Duty-free trade and the Agreement’s other provisions continue to operate exactly as they have.
- This is not a termination. Under the Agreement’s terms, absent a party electing to withdraw, USMCA will continue in force until at least July 1, 2036.
- The door remains open — at any time. The parties may agree to renew USMCA for an additional 16-year term whenever they reach agreement; renewal is not limited to scheduled review windows. Until an agreement is reached, the parties are required to meet annually to continue discussing renewal.
- Negotiations are continuing. USTR has confirmed that the United States and Mexico will hold a third round of bilateral negotiations the week of July 20, 2026, as part of the ongoing review process, and that engagement with both Mexico and Canada will continue.
AzDEC remains confident that, in the fullness of time, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will reach a renewal agreement that reflects the deep economic integration of our three countries. We will continue to monitor these negotiations closely, advocate for USMCA renewal, and keep our members and the public informed as they progress.
AzDEC also wishes to recognize Daniel Watson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere, on his retirement from USTR. Mr. Watson has played a central role in North American trade policy for well over a decade, including as Deputy Chief Negotiator for USMCA itself. We are grateful for his leadership and his contributions to the U.S.–Mexico–Canada trade relationship, and we wish him well.