The USTR has opened a public consultation on the 2027 annual review of the USMCA, inviting written comments and oral testimony on the agreement’s operation, policy priorities, regional competitiveness, and economic security.
The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced a formal public consultation for the 2027 USMCA Annual Joint Review on 2 October 2026, seeking written feedback and oral testimony from stakeholders on the trade agreement among the United States, Mexico, and Canada (USMCA).
Submission requirements and deadlines
The USTR established 12 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST as the deadline for all written comments and requests to testify.
Individuals and organisations must file materials through the online portal at comments.ustr.gov. Written comments go to docket USTR-2026-0595, while hearing appearance requests go to docket USTR-2026-0596.
The public hearing will take place at a date and location to be announced on the USTR website. Each speaker will receive five minutes for oral testimony. Participants can submit rebuttal comments within seven calendar days after the hearing concludes.
Topics for feedback
The USTR is accepting input on four areas: how the USMCA operates and functions, specific policy recommendations for the joint review, regional competitiveness and investment conditions, and strategies to strengthen economic security against non-market practices from outside countries.
All submissions must be in English. Materials containing confidential business information require clear labelling and a public version. Small businesses with fewer than 500 employees should identify themselves in their submissions.
What happened at the initial review
According to the Federal Register notice, the USMCA became effective on 1 July 2020 and carries a 16-year term set to expire on 1 July 2036. The three countries held their first joint review meeting on 1 July 2026. During that meeting, the US declined to approve an automatic 16-year extension of the pact. This decision triggered a new process that fundamentally changes how the agreement will be governed going forward.
The new annual review schedule
Because the initial extension failed, all three nations must now conduct yearly joint reviews. This continues until either all three countries agree to extend the agreement or it reaches its expiration date in 2036. The public consultation being announced is part of preparation for the 2027 annual review. The trade agreement currently covers USD 1.3 trillion in annual trade among the three countries, making these reviews significant for businesses and workers across North America.
