The road toward approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) hit a bit of a bump to open the week, but a quick exchange between U.S. and Mexican trade officials smoothed things over.
Mexican Undersecretary for North America and Chief Trade Negotiator Jesús Seade feared language in the implementing legislation for USMCA Mexico meant the U.S. was going to send labor inspectors to Mexican plants.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Monday quickly fired off a letter to assure Seade that Department of Labor attachés that would be in Mexico were not labor inspectors and pledged that the attaches would "abide by all relevant Mexican laws."
Lighthizer said the use of the attaches was "routine" and that the Labor Department attachés would "work with their Mexican counterparts, workers, and civil society groups on implementation of the Mexican labor reform."
At an event in Washington, Seade declared Lighthizer's response eased his fears. "We are satisfied, very satisfied," Seade said, noting other authorities in Mexico were also pleased.
Further, Seade indicated that Mexico has not found any other issues in the implementing legislation that would be questionable.
The Mexican Senate December 12 approved the modifications to the USMCA pact in a 107-1 vote. The House is expected to vote yet this week, but the Senate will not take up the USMCA legislation until later in January, after the impeachment trial.
Welcome
