Lila Abed, director of the Mexico Program at the Inter-American Dialogue: “With the upcoming statutory deadline this fall, it is widely anticipated that the U.S. government will initiate the USMCA consultation process this summer. This, along with the USMCA carve-outs and considerations in recent U.S. trade and tariff actions, signals the importance of the regional agreement and a proactive effort to provide economic clarity in an otherwise uncertain trade environment. Coming in the wake of volatile tariff policies during the first months of the Trump administration, this early start will be seen as a stabilizing move by investors, businesses and industries across North America. While the upcoming review does not entail a full renegotiation of the trade agreement, it opens the door for critical discussions on key friction points. Among the anticipated topics are adjusting rules of origin thresholds, reviewing labor provisions and resolving inconsistencies. This…”