Overview
- Rep. Jodey Arrington introduced the Mexican Energy Trade Enforcement Act instructing USTR to request a USMCA dispute panel over Mexico’s energy policies.
- The bill is co-led by Rep. Carol Miller and Rep. Henry Cuellar and is backed by industry groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, API, the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.
- Sponsors allege Mexico has given preferential treatment to Pemex and CFE that disadvantages U.S. firms and conflicts with USMCA’s fair-treatment commitments.
- Supporters cite curbs on clean-energy auctions, restrictive permitting and import rules, heavy bureaucracy, and targeted inspections as barriers to U.S. participation.
- The text urges either immediate panel proceedings or raising the dispute in the 2026 USMCA review, with some lawmakers calling for President Trump to confront Mexico if a panel is not initiated.