Linkedin-in Youtube Facebook-f

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

May 31, 2022

How Well Is the USMCA Protecting Workers’ Rights?

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has asked Mexican officials to probe labor conditions at a Panasonic factory in the Mexican border city of Reynosa. // File Photo: Office of U.S. Trade Representative.

Q

  • U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai in May asked Mexican counterparts to probe whether workers at a Panasonic auto parts factory in Reynosa were treated unfairly and denied labor rights. Panasonic denies any wrongdoing. Tai’s letter is the third labor complaint sent to Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. Why has the United States decided to defend the rights of Mexican workers now? How well are labor protection mechanisms under the USMCA, which was negotiated under the previous administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, working out? Has the USMCA created fairer labor terms and conditions for workers in the three signatory countries than existed under the previous NAFTA agreement?

A

Esteban Moctezuma, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States: “One of the main policies President López Obrador has wanted to carry out since his electoral campaign was to improve workers’ conditions. Since December 2018, real minimum wage in Mexico has increased 67 percent. Moreover, a new labor law was approved to ensure all Mexican unions can hold democratic elections. Both Mexico and the United States are aware that strong and competitive global economies require strict labor standards. The new labor law reform in Mexico ensures that men and women can have productive work, developed in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Mexico and the United States have worked closely to address labor matters quickly. Consequently, the Secretariat of Economy, with the support of the Mexican Labor Ministry, will conduct an internal…”

Top News

Summit of the Americas to Open in Los Angeles
The Summit of the Americas opens today, with Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela reportedly uninvited.
Analysts Expect 72 Percent Inflation Rate in Argentina
Analysts in a central bank survey said they expected Argentina’s inflation rate to soar to 72.6 percent this year, 7.5 percentage points higher than the consensus estimate in a previous survey in April.
Mexico’s Ruling Party, Allies Pick Up Four States in Elections
The party of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and its allies won four governor’s offices that they don’t already control in Sunday’s state elections, according to preliminary results.

Complete editions of the Latin America Advisor are delivered on a biweekly basis to members of the Dialogue’s Corporate Program and other subscribers. Sign up below for a free complimentary preview subscription.

Subscribe

ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.
Energy Advisor
Financial Services Advisor

Subscribers

the-dialogue-subscribers7
the-dialogue-subscribers6
the-dialogue-subscribers5
the-dialogue-subscribers4
the-dialogue-subscribers3
the-dialogue-subscribers2
the-dialogue-subscribers1

Staff

Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
Reporter

Nili Blanck
Reporter

Subscribe

board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

The Dialogue is a hemispheric organization that builds networks of cooperation and action to advance democratic resilience, shared prosperity, social inclusion, and sustainable development across the Americas. We impact policy debates, devise solutions, and enhance collaboration to unlock meaningful change in the Western Hemisphere.

Quick Links

Donate

Inter-American Dialogue
1155 15th Street NW | Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
P: +1-202-822-9002
F: +1-202-822-9553

Preview Latin America Advisor
Linkedin-in Youtube Facebook-f

© 2024 Inter-American Dialogue

Subscribe To
Latin America Advisors

* indicates required field

The Inter-American Dialogue Education Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

Part-Time: Reporter, Latin America Advisor