Overview
- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Mexico’s economy secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, in Washington for formal negotiations focused on rules of origin.
- Greer said on Fox Business that Canada is behind Mexico in the process, and there has been no U.S. announcement of formal talks with Ottawa since Dominic LeBlanc’s March 6 meeting.
- The administration last week launched Section 301 investigations into forced labour that include Canada, increasing pressure ahead of the midyear review.
- Under the review each country must choose in July to renew the pact for 16 years, withdraw, or signal non-renewal without withdrawal to trigger annual reviews.
- Greer has floated replacing the trilateral pact with two bilateral agreements, while Ottawa and Mexico City say they want to preserve a three-country deal.