Mexico Reports Progress in T-MEC Review After Meeting with U.S. Trade Representative

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced progress in the review of the USMCA (T-MEC) trade agreement following a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the National Palace. She described the discussion as productive, stating that both nations advanced in the review of the T-MEC and other bilateral agreements beneficial to both peoples.

The meeting was part of Greer's visit to Mexico, where he engaged in technical discussions with Mexican officials led by the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, and representatives from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Sheinbaum emphasized that this meeting was not an isolated event but part of an ongoing dialogue between the two governments to prepare for the T-MEC review.

She explained that the conversation served as an evaluation of the negotiations' current status and allowed for a direct understanding of the U.S. position. The discussions this week addressed critical trade matters such as steel and aluminum tariffs, the automotive sector, economic security, labor issues, agriculture, and electronic payment services. Additionally, Sheinbaum indicated she would present Mexico's stance on its compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty, following U.S. legislators' concerns about water delivery volumes.

Regarding the potential for new U.S. tariffs under Section 301, the president reiterated that Mexico has presented its arguments to prevent such measures and awaits Washington's decision. This round of talks is the first since the U.S. opted against automatically extending the T-MEC for another 16 years, choosing instead an annual review scheme until 2036. The Mexican government aims to limit these reviews to verification purposes.