The US and Mexico open a third round of USMCA joint review talks in Mexico City on 21 July 2026, with automotive rules of origin and steel and aluminium tariffs topping a three-day agenda that also covers labour, agriculture, and electronic payments.
The US will meet with Mexico in Mexico City for the third bilateral negotiating round related to the Joint Review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on 21 July 2026, according to a release by the USTR dated 17 July 2026.
This follows after the US and Mexico have begun formal negotiations to revise the USMCA, with the US seeking stricter regional content requirements, including a new minimum threshold for US-made automotive components. The first round ended on 28 May 2025, with further talks scheduled for 16–17 June in Washington and the week of 20 July in Mexico City.
Negotiating teams will convene for three days to advance discussions on issues regarding trade in steel and aluminium and derivative products, automobiles, economic security, labour, agriculture, and electronic payment services.
“I thank Secretary Ebrard and his team at the Secretariat of Economy for their collaboration over several months to reinforce the US-Mexico bilateral trade and economic relationship,” said Ambassador Greer. “This work has yielded many successes, including recent progress on issues identified in the 2026 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. I look forward to building on this progress to ensure that the US.-Mexico trading relationship benefits US manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, workers, service suppliers, and businesses of all sizes, and closes any loopholes that would allow free-riding by non-Parties.”
Areas of Improvement
- Economic Security: In July 2026, Mexico published an updated measure regulating the export of dual-use items that more closely aligns Mexican and US export controls.
- Intellectual Property (IP): As noted in the 2026 Special 301 Report, Mexico has taken substantial actions to address significant IP concerns in the areas of pharmaceutical IP, criminal and administrative enforcement, border enforcement, and enforcement against online piracy.
- Customs and Trade Facilitation: In May 2026, Mexico introduced an upgrade to its single window system and a new framework to streamline cross-border trade operations. In July 2026, Mexico operationalised its customs broker agency programme at all Mexican ports.
- Environment: Mexico is taking steps towards addressing the export of avocados grown on illegally deforested land. Mexico is also taking steps to control more effectively the discharge of industrial wastewater into the Southwestern United States.
- Telecommunications Equipment: Mexico made changes to simplify testing requirements, helping to facilitate US telecommunications equipment exports to Mexico.
USTR continues to work constructively with the Secretariat of Economy to address the trade barriers identified in the National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers.
