by the El Reportero’s wire services
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard signaled on Tuesday that the 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will likely rely more on bilateral negotiations than on trilateral discussions.
Ebrard’s comments followed similar remarks by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who said the upcoming review of the free trade pact will “probably” proceed on a bilateral track.
Speaking at an event in Mexico City, Ebrard explained that it is normal for USMCA discussions to take shape in bilateral formats. “These talks always have a high bilateral component for natural reasons,” he said, noting that each country has unique trade relationships within the broader framework of the accord.
“As an example, Mexico is the principal exporter of tomatoes to the U.S., while Canada’s dominant export is lumber,” the minister said. “So there are many issues we manage separately, whether with the United States or with Canada.”
He added that Mexico also holds bilateral discussions with Canada on issues such as mining, while some topics — like the pact’s dispute settlement system — remain trilateral.
The 2026 review will mark six years since the USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). During his first presidency, Donald Trump had floated the idea of scrapping NAFTA in favor of two separate trade deals, one with Mexico and another with Canada, though that plan was never realized.
Trade between the three countries amounts to nearly $2 trillion annually, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. However, the agreement has come under strain this year as the Trump administration reintroduced tariffs on Mexican and Canadian exports, including steel, aluminum, and vehicles.
Washington’s Position
Greer elaborated on the U.S. perspective during remarks at the Economic Club of New York, where he said the U.S. intends to use the review to address specific frictions with each partner. World Trade Online reported his view that a bilateral format would allow Washington to pursue its goals more effectively.
His statements came shortly after both Mexico and the United States invited public input on the future of the agreement.
Last month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum hosted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Mexico City, where both leaders pledged to reinforce the trade pact, according to El País.
Trump, however, has repeatedly criticized the agreement, citing the U.S. trade deficits with both Mexico and Canada. He has also linked the deal to border security concerns, pressing the neighboring governments to act against narcotics trafficking, especially fentanyl. In recent weeks, he has indicated that he does not simply want a review, but a renegotiation of the accord.
Former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who helped craft the original deal during Trump’s first term, echoed that sentiment in Mexico City last week. According to Bloomberg columnist Juan Pablo Spinetto, Lighthizer suggested that the 2026 revision will be “far tougher than most investors and strategists expect.”
“What began as a scheduled six-year review,” Spinetto wrote, “is rapidly transforming into a full renegotiation, one that will require considerable patience and skill from Mexico to safeguard its interests.”
Challenges Ahead
Adding to the uncertainty, a report from the U.S. State Department released in September highlighted that Mexico has yet to issue necessary implementing regulations in multiple USMCA areas. The absence of these rules, the report said, is complicating operations for industries such as telecommunications, financial services, and energy.
With the clock ticking toward 2026, the tone set by leaders in Washington and Mexico City suggests that while the USMCA remains intact, the road ahead could prove more turbulent than many stakeholders once anticipated.
With information from La Jornada, El Financiero and El País.
