Media: US prepares to renegotiate USMCA trade deal with Mexico, Canada

The US is set to begin public consultations soon on renegotiating the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the largest free trade deal for the country. Under a 2020 law implementing the pact, the Office of the US Trade Representative must start consultations by October 4. A request for comments from companies and unions could be issued as early as this week.

This will mark the start of a likely months-long process, including a public hearing, a congressional briefing in January 2026, and the first official trilateral review meeting by July 1, 2026, The Wall Street Journal writes.

The USMCA, signed by President Trump in 2020, replaced the 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Despite championing the USMCA, Trump has imposed and partially rolled back tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, citing drug trafficking concerns. These tariffs, including a 25% levy on steel, aluminum, automobiles, and lumber, have disrupted key supply chains, despite exemptions for USMCA-compliant products.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently spoke with Trump, said the countries “are making progress” but does not expect an imminent deal. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss cross-border security, a key issue linked to broader trade negotiations.

Rubio noted Mexico’s cooperation, highlighting that Mexico is the US’s top trading partner, with about 80% of its exports going to the US. Tariffs on Mexican goods, extended for 90 days by Trump in August, remain a point of tension.

Senator Bernie Moreno, a Trump ally, emphasized the need for higher US content requirements in goods, particularly automobiles:

“You have to up the US content dramatically, especially in the automobile industry. In fact, that’s one of the things I talked to the Mexican leadership about is a recognition that there’s just going to be a lot less cars made in Mexico that end up in the US."

The US trade office also points to challenges including Mexico’s energy policies favoring state-run companies, telecom market restrictions, limits on US corn and cotton imports, and weak copyright protections.

Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard acknowledged the difficulties ahead but stressed the importance of cooperation:

“I can see that the coming months and the review of the USMCA won’t be easy. But we need each other to be competitive.”

By Sabina Mammadli