### Harris Reaffirms Opposition to USMCA; Ebrard Predicts Protectionist Review
Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States and a Democratic presidential candidate, reiterated her opposition to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on September 27, 2024, emphasizing her commitment to the upcoming review of the agreement scheduled for 2026. Harris, who was among the ten U.S. Senators to vote against the USMCA in January 2020, made this statement during a work trip to Michigan, an epicenter of the American automotive industry.
“As one of the ten senators who voted against the USMCA, I knew it wasn’t sufficient to protect our country and its workers,” Harris declared. She criticized the agreement, negotiated under former President Trump, for resulting in job losses in the United States. “Many who supported this agreement conditioned their support on a review process, which I will implement as President,” she added.
On the same day, Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubón, expected to take office as Mexico’s Secretary of Economy on October 1, 2024, forecasted a protectionist atmosphere during the treaty review. Speaking at the 2024 National Convention of the National Chamber of Freight Transport (CANACAR), Ebrard emphasized that consultations for the USMCA would begin in the second half of 2025.
“The difficulty level of the review will differ from 2018 because the environment in the United States has changed. There’s a new consensus towards greater protectionism, and that’s a challenge we will face,” Ebrard said. He emphasized that the USMCA is “too small” relative to the scale of trade between Mexico and the United States, stressing the need to strengthen and expand the treaty.
Ebrard noted the intense commercial competition between the U.S. and China, underscoring Mexico’s strategic role for the U.S. “The treaty has been the best investment for the United States because it has allowed American companies to be more competitive,” he commented.
The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and came into force on July 1, 2020, after being signed by Donald Trump, Enrique Peña Nieto, and Justin Trudeau in November 2018. The agreement was ratified by the U.S. Congress with overwhelming support in early 2020.
### Additional Context on USMCA Review
Recent developments further highlight the significance of the upcoming USMCA review. As reported on September 26, 2024, by multiple outlets, the U.S. has been taking strides to address trade imbalances and labor concerns associated with the agreement. For instance, labor activists in both the United States and Mexico are pushing for more stringent labor standards, hoping to curb outsourcing and improve local employment conditions.
Moreover, the Biden administration has hinted at tougher scrutiny over trade practices, with a particular focus on environmental policies and sustainable development. This positions the 2026 review as a pivotal moment for potentially reshaping the three-country trade alliance to better align with contemporary economic and environmental priorities.
The protectionist sentiment, as predicted by Ebrard, may also intensify debates over tariffs and trade barriers, particularly in light of ongoing global trade tensions. These factors collectively underscore the complex and dynamic nature of the forthcoming USMCA review process.
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