The upcoming review of the USMCA is taking place amid rising trade tensions in the agricultural sector, driven by multiple antidumping investigations and trade remedies between Mexico and the United States.
So far in 2026, Mexico has launched antidumping proceedings against U.S. apples and pork imports. At the same time, the United States continues to apply a compensatory duty on Mexican tomatoes and has opened an investigation into winter strawberry imports from Mexico.
According to Rubisel Velázquez, a former USMCA negotiator, these cases demonstrate that the agreement’s dispute settlement mechanisms are functioning. However, they also highlight the need to reassess the conditions under which such investigations are initiated to prevent distortions or misuse.
While trade frictions are common among partners, Velázquez noted that their significance increases in the context of the forthcoming review. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that procedures are properly justified, supported domestically, and carried out through the formal channels established by the agreement.
He also argued that the agricultural chapter should be updated to address issues not considered when the USMCA entered into force in 2020, including the use of artificial intelligence and biotechnology. These tools, he said, are increasingly essential to address challenges such as climate change, rising pest pressures, and more adverse conditions for food production.
After six years in effect, Velázquez concluded, the production, technological, and climate landscape has changed substantially, making it necessary to modernize agricultural trade rules to strengthen competitiveness and regional food security.
Source: El Diario MX
