Overview

• USTR issued a Sept. 17 Federal Register notice launching the required Section 611 consultation, with comments due Nov. 3 via the online portal and a public hearing on Nov. 17 at the U.S. International Trade Commission, followed by a seven‑day rebuttal period.
• The notice seeks input on the agreement’s operation and compliance, recommendations to promote “balanced trade” and new market access, factors affecting investment, cooperation on non‑market practices, and the work of the North American Competitiveness Committee.
• USTR must deliver a report to Congress by Jan. 2, 2026 evaluating USMCA’s performance and outlining proposed U.S. positions and actions for the Joint Review expected around July 1, 2026.
• Mexico opened its own consultation on Sept. 17 with submissions accepted through Nov. 16, and Canada previously completed a public comment process in October 2024.
• The process unfolds as IEEPA‑based tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods remain in effect with a temporary exemption for shipments that qualify under USMCA rules of origin, including a higher 35% duty level applied to Canadian goods outside the carve‑outs.