Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum assured this Wednesday that her government will defend the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) “because it has been beneficial for all three countries” after her counterpart, Donald Trump, said on Tuesday that the treaty would be renegotiated very soon.
Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard speaks during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on February 3, 2025.
“So far, we have no other indication that the USMCA will disappear. On the contrary, in the discussions we are having with the secretaries of both Finance and Commerce, we continue working within the USMCA,” the president said during her morning press conference.
Sheinbaum affirmed that Mexico will negotiate “little by little” and in constant communication with U.S. authorities.
The USMCA must be reviewed before July 2026, as agreed by the three signatory countries.
Sheinbaum acknowledged that what Trump said about noncompliance with the rules of origin is true, which state that a high percentage of what is manufactured must be made with products from the three signatory countries. However, she explained that this is because some of Mexico’s exports are not made under the USMCA, but rather under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) most-favored-nation (MFN) rule. The objective of the MFN rule is to achieve fair trading conditions and prevent discrimination.
Sheinbaum said that Trump did not send a clear message and that nothing formal has been proposed so far, so she believes there is no need to rush ahead. “In any case, we are prepared,” she assured.
Source: cnnespanol
