On Thursday, June 4, the Washington International Trade Association held a webinar on COVID-19 and USMCA: The Pandemic and Implementation of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The panelists discussed the entry into force of the USMCA on July 1. Topics included a period of penalty-free adjustment and transition for the automotive industry in preparation for implementation, the delays caused by Covid-19 in Mexico, and other implications of Covid-19 on companies seeking to achieve their implementation goals on time.
Panelists discussed the agricultural impacts of the USMCA, including virtually no tariffs between the U.S. and Mexico on agricultural products and increased sanitary and phytosanitary provisions. However, panelists also addressed potential disputes brewing within the agricultural sector regarding agricultural seasonality, increase in border inspections, and live cattle imports.
For more information on the USMCA, please see this fact sheet published by the United States Trade Representative.
