Last week, leaders from Mexico, Canada, and the United States expressed contrasting views on the TMEC renegotiation. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was optimistic, calling it a review and adjustment to the treaty, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described it as long and difficult, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that all options are on the table.
Recent statements highlight divergences in stances on the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (TMEC), scheduled for 2026. Sheinbaum stressed her confidence in an adjustment process to strengthen the existing deal. In contrast, Carney warned that negotiations will be prolonged due to existing tariffs under Section 232 of U.S. trade law and the introduction of new issues by the USTR, complicating the agenda. Greer, in closed-door meetings with congressional committees on December 16 and 17, presented a confidential report from the public consultation that included hearings from December 3 to 5 with representatives from 175 organizations across the three countries. Democratic lawmakers, including Ron Wyden, Richard Neal, Elizabeth Warren, Tina Smith, and Ben Ray Luján, demanded the written report by December 30, criticizing its delivery only to the White House.
Greer acknowledged private sector support for TMEC continuity but advocated for changes in labor and human rights, environmental protections, and CFIUS-like mechanisms to review foreign investments, particularly Chinese ones in Mexico and Canada. For Canada, he cited barriers to U.S. dairy products, banking services, and critical minerals. With Mexico, he highlighted over 50 non-tariff barriers delivered by Secretary Marco Rubio, including energy reform, business environment changes, and the Calica case, where the Mexican government seized facilities at Puerto Venado, declaring them a protected area with security implications. He did not rule out options like bilateral agreements and emphasized mechanisms to ensure compliance. Carney announced a meeting between Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Greer in mid-January to start formal discussions.
