New Dems Urge Administration to Preserve & Strengthen USMCA Trade Agreement in Upcoming Review
This week, 36 New Democrat Coalition Members, led by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) alongside his fellow House Ways & Means Committee members New Dem Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10), New Dem Trade & Tariffs Task Force Chair Don Beyer (VA-08), sent a letter to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative, ahead of the July 2026 joint review of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).
In the letter, New Dems call on the USTR to use the upcoming USMCA review to update and expand on the existing framework without undermining the successes and essential components that have benefitted the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in the six years the USMCA has been in effect.
The letter reads in part:
“USMCA is an example of what we can achieve when the administration and Congress work together. While there are enhancements that should be made, we believe the 2026 review should aim to build on and refine the successes of USMCA without undermining its core framework.”
New Dems specifically call for the preservation of key innovations in the original deal, including a first-of-its-kind Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) to resolve labor disputes, enhanced environmental protections, and a commitment to innovation. They also urge improvements in enforcement, coordination, and security to ensure the agreement keeps up with emerging challenges in global trade.
Lastly, New Dems call for the Administration to consult with Congress, industry partners, and labor stakeholders – as well as their Canadian and Mexican counterparts – ahead of the 2026 review to ensure the process is transparent and focused on strengthening rather than weakening the agreement.
You can read the full letter here, and below:
Dear Ambassador Greer:
We urge you to leverage the upcoming review of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) to make improvements that ensure the continuation of the agreement. USMCA is an example of what we can achieve when the administration and Congress work together. While there are enhancements that should be made, we believe the 2026 review should aim to build on and refine the successes of USMCA without undermining its core framework.
USMCA included several novel provisions in support of American industry and workers. It has helped create a more level playing field by strengthening rules of origin and introducing a first-of-its-kind Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) to resolve labor disputes. This mechanism allows any interested party to petition the U.S. government to initiate a case based on credible evidence that workers’ rights are being denied at a specific facility in Mexico. To date, it has been used 37 times to support workers and protect U.S. industry from unfair labor practices.
Since its implementation, USMCA has played a vital role in supporting North American supply chains,
enhancing regional competitiveness, and reinforcing labor standards that protect workers across all three countries. North America now accounts for about one-third of global GDP and intra-regional goods trade supported an estimated 9.5 million jobs across North America in 2022-2023. The improvements to trade policy and enforcement in North America, such as the RRM, enhanced environmental protections, and a commitment to innovation must be preserved and strengthened through the upcoming review.
At the same time, we recognize that new challenges have emerged that merit attention. Improvements can be made to USMCA to strengthen enforcement consistency and to address new trade and investment practices that threaten our economies. The agreement can also be updated to take advantage of new opportunities for coordination, clarify issues that have been the source of disagreement, and manage emerging security threats. However, these enhancements should be sought to strengthen, not to threaten, the agreement. A resilient and modernized North American trade agreement is key to American security. Enhancing and preserving the agreement can help us shore up the supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic and address shifting geopolitical dynamics.
As you prepare for the 2026 review, we urge you to engage meaningfully with Congress, industry partners, and labor stakeholders to ensure the process is inclusive, transparent, and focused on reinforcing the agreement’s strengths. We also encourage the Administration to coordinate closely with our Canadian and Mexican counterparts to reaffirm our shared commitment to a high-standard trade agenda that can serve as a model globally.
We look forward to working together to ensure the USMCA continues to deliver for America.
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