USMCA Joint Review Tracker
The review is open.
Every lane is moving.
A weekly view of the 2026 USMCA joint review: what has changed, what has not, and what it means for your compliance program.
Last updated August 10, 2026 · Round 3 completed; Round 4 set for first half of September
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2018
USMCA Signed
2020
Enters Into Force
May 2026
Round 1, Mexico City
Bilateral
Completed
Jun 2026
Round 2, Washington
Bilateral
Completed
Jul 1, 2026
Joint Review Convened
Trilateral
Completed
Jul 21–23, 2026
Round 3, Mexico City
Bilateral
Completed
▲ Today
Sep 2026
Round 4, Washington
Bilateral
Directed
2036
Term Ends Absent Extension
Current Legal Status
Read Article 34.7 →
Agreement remains in force
New 16-year term not confirmed
Annual reviews now required
Current term ends 2036 absent extension
Separate domestic tariff and customs actions, including Section 232, Section 301, Section 338, and de minimis rulemakings, do not change the legal force of the agreement. They do change landed cost and compliance planning.
Latest Developments
Aug 6, 2026
Greer and LeBlanc hold second Washington meeting in two weeks; Canada presses for comprehensive sectoral-tariff deal
Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette met USTR Jamieson Greer in Washington on August 6, their second sit-down in as many weeks; a scheduled 30-minute meeting ran roughly 90 minutes. LeBlanc stated afterward that the meeting was "constructive and detailed" and that Canada's focus "has been and will continue to be on striking a comprehensive deal that addresses sectoral tariffs." No formal U.S.–Canada bilateral negotiating round under the joint review has been announced; engagement is running through these ministerial meetings ahead of the August 19 effective date of the U.S. Section 338 duties.
Reported
Canada Position →
Jul 23, 2026
Round 3 concludes; fourth bilateral round directed for Washington
USTR and Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy issued aligned statements after three days of talks in Mexico City. Ambassador Greer met President Sheinbaum and Secretary Ebrard. The official record confirms discussion of automobiles, economic security, labor, agriculture, electronic payment services, and steel and aluminum, but no agreed amendment text was released. A fourth round was directed for Washington in September 2026.
Official Announcement
Negotiation Tracker →
Jul 23, 2026
Automotive content remains the central unresolved issue
Reporting after the talks indicates the two sides remain apart on automotive content, including a U.S. demand that vehicles carry 50% U.S.-made content to qualify for preferential access. Mexico continues to seek relief from separate Section 232 tariffs on autos, steel, and aluminum before broader concessions.
Reported
Automotive →
Jul 23, 2026
USTR finalizes forced-labor Section 301 action; USMCA duty-free goods exempt
USTR imposed additional duties of 10% or 12.5% on 60 economies for failure to enforce forced-labor import prohibitions, effective July 24. Goods of Canada and Mexico entered free of duty under USMCA are exempt, as are Section 232 articles. Eligibility for preference is not enough on its own; the goods must actually enter duty free under the agreement.
Official Announcement
Labor →
Jul 22, 2026
Greer tells Senate talks with Mexico continue, door open to Ottawa
In Senate Finance testimony, Ambassador Greer said he was traveling to Mexico that day to join the talks, that the new Canada tariffs would not take effect for 30 days, and that the United States remained open to discussing a path forward with Ottawa. Reporting the same week indicated he is aiming for interim arrangements with both partners by year end, with harder issues carried into 2027.
Official Statement
Positions →
Jul 20, 2026
U.S. imposes 50% Section 338 tariffs on certain Canadian goods
Three presidential proclamations impose an additional 50% duty on Canadian motor vehicle, alcoholic beverage, and dairy products, effective August 19, 2026. The duties apply regardless of whether goods originate under USMCA. Energy, potash, Section 232 articles, fish, and critical minerals are excluded. Annex coverage extends well past the three headline categories.
Official Announcement
Canada Position →
Jul 3, 2026
Canada briefs provinces; reiterates steel, aluminum, auto, lumber priorities
Minister LeBlanc updated provincial and territorial trade ministers on the Joint Review outcome, reiterating that Canada will keep pressing the US on sectoral tariffs while defending the trilateral framework.
Official Statement
Canada Position →
Jul 1, 2026
Trilateral Joint Review convenes; US declines 16-year renewal
The Free Trade Commission held the mandatory six-year review under Article 34.7. The US did not agree to renew on current terms, triggering annual reviews. USTR was explicit: the agreement "remains in force pending resolution of these issues or until the Agreement's termination."
Official Statement
Legal Status →
8 Tracked Topics
Status by Topic
Rules of Origin
Flagged
Rules of origin remain a live negotiation issue, not a settled outcome. Round 3 kept automobiles on the agenda, and reporting after the talks indicates the core disagreement over higher U.S.-specific content is unresolved.
Chapters 4–5
Read more →
Automotive
Flagged
Automotive content is the most consequential unsettled item in the review-related talks. Reporting after Round 3 shows no convergence on tougher content rules, and Mexico continues to link broader concessions to relief from separate U.S. auto tariffs.
Chapter 4, Automotive Appendix
Read more →
Steel & Aluminum
Flagged
Steel and aluminum stayed on the Round 3 agenda without a public resolution. Separate U.S. tariff actions continue to shape market access, sourcing choices, and commercial leverage.
Outside USMCA text: Section 232, domestic law
Read more →
Economic Security
Advancing
Economic security is the workstream where U.S. and Mexican positions overlap most closely. The public record points to continued work on regional manufacturing, supply-chain resilience, and preventing non-party free-riding, but not to a completed framework.
Cross-cutting: Chapters 4, 7
Read more →
Agriculture
Active
Agriculture is now a confirmed live negotiation topic, not just a likely dispute category. No negotiated package emerged from Round 3, and the Canada dairy dispute plus separate U.S. tariff action raise the stakes.
Chapter 3
Read more →
Labor
Active
Labor stayed on the bilateral agenda through Round 3. The July 23 forced-labor Section 301 action sharpens the need for importers to verify supply-chain controls and supplier diligence.
Chapter 23, Annex 31-A
Read more →
Digital Trade
Active
Digital trade is active but narrowly defined. Electronic payment services carried from the Round 3 agenda into the official post-round statement, with no public source establishing agreed digital-trade language.
Chapter 19
Read more →
De Minimis
Monitoring
De minimis is a monitoring item, not a confirmed Joint Review workstream. Treaty discussions remain separate from CBP’s independent de minimis rulemakings, which are moving on their own timetable.
Chapter 7
Read more →
Formal Process
Negotiation Tracker
Bilateral negotiating rounds and the formal trilateral Joint Review are two separate tracks. Both are shown here.
| Date | Forum | Parties | Issues | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 28–29, 2026 | Bilateral Round 1 | US – Mexico | Economic security, automotive rules of origin, steel & aluminum | Concluded; advanced discussions on ROO and economic security |
| Jun 15–17, 2026 | Bilateral Round 2 | US – Mexico | Rules of origin, economic security, agriculture, labor, environment (conceptual) | Concluded; Greer & Ebrard met directly in DC |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Trilateral Joint Review | US, Mexico, Canada | Mandatory Article 34.7 six-year review | US declined 16-year renewal; annual reviews triggered; agreement remains in force |
| Jul 21–23, 2026 | Bilateral Round 3 | US – Mexico | Steel & aluminum, automobiles, economic security, labor, agriculture, electronic payment services | Completed. Joint statement issued Jul 23; Greer met President Sheinbaum and Secretary Ebrard; no public amendment text |
| Sep 2026 | Bilateral Round 4 | US – Mexico | Carryover agenda from Round 3; automotive content the central open item | Directed by the Jul 23 joint statement. Washington, D.C. Mexican press reports place it in the first half of September; exact dates not yet announced |
| TBD | US – Canada bilateral track | US – Canada | Steel, aluminum, autos, lumber tariffs; Section 338 action | Ongoing engagement, but no formal bilateral round has been publicly announced. Jul 20 Section 338 tariffs on certain Canadian goods take effect Aug 19 |
Sources: USTR press releases (May 29, Jun 18, Jul 1, Jul 17, Jul 20, Jul 23, 2026); White House Section 338 fact sheet (Jul 20, 2026); Global Affairs Canada, Minister LeBlanc statements (Jul 1, Jul 3, 2026); El Financiero (Jul 23–24, 2026) on Round 4 timing.
Three-Country View
Positions of the Parties
United States
Declined 16-year renewal; running separate bilateral tracks rather than one trilateral renegotiation
Top priorities: reducing trade deficits; tighter automotive and industrial rules of origin, including a reported 50% U.S.-content requirement for vehicles; regional manufacturing and supply-chain resilience; limiting free-riding by non-parties.
Recent statement: Ambassador Greer, Jul 22 Senate Finance testimony. Negotiations with Mexico continuing, the new Canada tariffs delayed 30 days, and the United States open to discussing a path forward with Ottawa.
Reported: Greer is aiming for interim arrangements with Mexico and Canada by the end of 2026, with automotive content, labor, and environment carried into 2027.
Mexico
Accepts annual-review structure; still pressing for Section 232 relief before broader concessions
Top priorities: relief from separate U.S. tariffs on autos, steel, and aluminum; resistance to any U.S.-specific vehicle content requirement; defense of existing rules of origin; a regional approach to automotive integration.
Recent statement: Jul 23 joint statement with USTR, plus the Secretariat of Economy’s parallel declaration. Ebrard described the talks as constructive, with advances on steel, aluminum, and substitution of imports from Asia.
Reported, Jul 29: at the July 29 presidential press conference, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard responded to recent U.S. statements on the agreement by asserting that Mexico is now the number one buyer of U.S. products, ahead of China, Germany, and Japan, and that this "strengthens our position at the negotiating table." He said Mexico maintains constant communication with U.S. authorities to preserve preferential treatment under the agreement and reiterated that the fourth negotiating round is set for September.
Reported: Mexico expects no practical change in effective tariff treatment from the Jul 23 Section 301 action, because USMCA-qualified goods remain exempt.
Canada
Sought full 16-year renewal; no formal bilateral round has been publicly announced
Top priorities: relief from U.S. sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, and softwood lumber; avoiding further escalation; preserving the trilateral framework rather than a U.S.-Mexico-led process.
Recent development: the Jul 20 Section 338 proclamations impose 50% duties on certain Canadian goods effective Aug 19, regardless of USMCA origin. Prime Minister Carney said on Jul 21 that he and President Trump agreed to intensify talks.
Reported, Aug 4: The Globe and Mail reported that LeBlanc and Charette traveled to Washington to revive a metals framework under which Canadian steel and aluminum exports would be subject to tariff-rate quotas in exchange for reduced U.S. Section 232 tariffs (in-quota steel tariffs reportedly in the 10–15% range versus 25–50% outside the quota, based on terms discussed in October 2025). The report indicates the near-term focus is interim sectoral arrangements before year-end, with structural USMCA negotiations, including potential automotive changes, expected to continue into 2027. Unconfirmed by either government.
Reported, Aug 6: Prime Minister Mark Carney said negotiations with the U.S. had turned "nasty" after President Trump, in an August 5 Las Vegas speech, criticized Canada's "nasty leadership" while threatening to proceed with 50% tariffs on additional Canadian goods from August 19. Carney said Canadian negotiators were in Washington that week, that talks cover strategic sectors including autos, and that he expected further conversations with Trump after speaking with him the prior week. The remarks frame Canada's posture of staying at the table on sectoral tariffs while defending the trilateral framework.
Engagement: contact continues through calls and meetings in Washington between Minister LeBlanc and Ambassador Greer, but no formal negotiating round has been announced; ministerial meetings continued through August 6.
Business impact: a KPMG poll reported in early July found 42% of Canadian manufacturers have shifted or plan to shift production to the U.S., and 57% have paused or cut capital spending amid the uncertainty.
Sources: USTR press releases and Senate Finance testimony (Jul 2026); Secretaría de Economía; White House Section 338 fact sheet; Global Affairs Canada; Reuters and Associated Press reporting, Jul 20–24, 2026; The Globe and Mail (Aug 4, 2026); ABC News wire (Aug 6, 2026); El Gráfico (Jul 29, 2026).
Round 3 Outcome
Bilateral · US–MexicoJuly 21–23, 2026, Mexico City. Ambassador Greer met President Claudia Sheinbaum and Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. Official disclosures cover economic security, labor, agriculture, electronic payment services, steel and aluminum and derivative products, and automobiles. The round produced a joint statement and a direction to convene a fourth bilateral round in Washington in September 2026.
What it did not produce. No agreed amendment text, protocol, or sector-by-sector settlement has been published. Reporting after the talks identifies automotive content rules as the central sticking point, with Mexico continuing to seek relief from separate Section 232 tariffs before broader concessions. Canadian participation in Round 3 is not established in the public record.
Why it matters. The review-related negotiations are no longer hypothetical. Automotive rules, supply-chain security, labor-linked enforcement, metals, and electronic payment services all remained active enough to carry into a fourth round, so scenario planning, origin-data readiness, and tariff-overlap monitoring stay near the top of the compliance agenda.
Note: this was a bilateral US–Mexico negotiating round related to the Joint Review. It was not itself the formal trilateral Article 34.7 joint review, which was convened separately on July 1, 2026.
↗ USTR, joint statement with Secretary Ebrard, July 23 ↗ USTR, Round 3 announcement, July 17
Public Source Library
Key Documents
Primary government sources cited across this tracker. Members get the full Tier 1/Tier 2 archive in the Source Library.
CUSMA Chapter 34, Final Provisions (Article 34.7)
Joint Statement, Ambassador Greer and Secretary Ebrard
USTR Takes Action in Forced Labor Section 301 Investigations
Fact Sheet: Additional Section 338 Tariffs on Canada
Members: every source behind every topic, in one filterable place.
Tier 1 primary government sources and Tier 2 legal and policy analysis across all eight topics, including sources that have rotated off the topic pages.
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Also in the members-only library: the July 1 statements from Ambassador Greer and Minister LeBlanc, the July 17 Round 3 announcement, Ambassador Greer’s July 22 Senate Finance testimony, Canada’s July 23 response to the Section 301 action, and the Secretaría de Economía declaration.
Read Before The Headlines Worry You
What Hasn't Changed
Is USMCA still in force?
Yes. The agreement remains fully in force. The US declined to confirm a 16-year renewal, which triggers annual joint reviews. It does not end the agreement.
Do my preferential tariff rates change today?
No. Current preferential tariff treatment, rules of origin, and dispute settlement mechanisms remain fully operative. Separate domestic tariff programs can still change what a specific entry costs.
Is the de minimis change part of USMCA?
No. CBP's suspension of the general $800 de minimis exemption is a separate, already-effective action, distinct from the USMCA review's own de minimis discussion, which has not yet started formally.
Did Round 3 amend the agreement?
No. No agreed amendment text, protocol, or implementing legislation has been published from Round 3. The confirmed outcome is procedural: a joint statement, and a fourth bilateral round directed for Washington in September 2026.
Do the new Section 301 and Section 338 tariffs mean USMCA has ended?
No. Both rely on separate domestic tariff authorities. Goods of Canada and Mexico entered free of duty under USMCA are exempt from the July 23 Section 301 forced-labor action, while the July 20 Section 338 duties apply to covered goods regardless of USMCA origin. Treaty status and tariff exposure are now two different questions, and they need to be answered separately for each entry.
Full Source Library: Members Only
Tier 1 and Tier 2 sourcing for every topic above, and the full status archive back to the review's start.
Trade Law Partners
Have a legal question about the review? ICPA's trade law partners are available to help members navigate the compliance implications of the joint review.
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Tuttle Law
Customs and International Trade Law
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About this tracker
Spot something inaccurate, know of a development, article, or video that should be added, or notice something not working? Reach out any time.
This tracker is researched, written, and maintained by Heather Tschirhart, Head of Research, Data, and Analytics.