The USMCA Trade Agreement PDF: Everything You Need to Know
The USMCA trade agreement, also known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The agreement was signed on November 30, 2018, and entered into force on July 1, 2020. It aims to modernize and improve trade relations between the three countries, with a focus on supporting the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, promoting fair competition, and protecting labor rights and the environment.
If you`re looking to learn more about the USMCA trade agreement and how it may affect your business, the US government has made the full text of the agreement available in PDF format. Here`s a rundown of what you`ll find in the 1,800-page document:
Chapter 1: Initial Provisions
This chapter lays out the purpose of the agreement, as well as the scope of its coverage. It also includes definitions of key terms used throughout the text.
Chapter 2: National Treatment and Market Access for Goods
This chapter outlines the commitments made by each country to provide fair and non-discriminatory treatment to goods imported from the other countries. It also includes provisions related to customs procedures, rules of origin, and the elimination of tariffs on certain goods.
Chapter 3: Agriculture
This chapter focuses on trade in agricultural products, including the removal of trade barriers and provisions related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Chapter 4: Rules of Origin
This chapter defines the rules of origin for goods traded under the agreement, which determine whether a product qualifies for preferential treatment under the tariff elimination provisions.
Chapter 5: Origin Procedures
This chapter outlines the procedures that must be followed to establish the origin of a good, including the documentation that must be provided.
Chapter 6: Textiles and Apparel
This chapter includes provisions related to trade in textiles and apparel, such as rules of origin and provisions regarding customs procedures and import licensing.
Chapter 7: Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation
This chapter outlines the procedures that must be followed for customs clearance and includes provisions related to transparency, predictability, and efficiency in customs procedures.
Chapter 8: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
This chapter outlines the commitments made by each country to ensure that food and agricultural products traded under the agreement are safe for human and animal consumption.
Chapter 9: Technical Barriers to Trade
This chapter outlines the commitments made by each country to ensure that technical regulations and standards do not create unnecessary barriers to trade.
Chapter 10: Cross-Border Trade in Services
This chapter focuses on trade in services, including the removal of trade barriers and provisions related to the movement of natural persons.
Chapter 11: Financial Services
This chapter includes provisions related to trade in financial services, such as market access and non-discriminatory treatment.
Chapter 12: Telecommunications
This chapter outlines the commitments made by each country to promote competition and provide access to telecommunications services.
Chapter 13: Intellectual Property
This chapter outlines the commitments made by each country to protect intellectual property rights, including copyrights, trademarks, and patents.
Chapter 14: E-Commerce
This chapter includes provisions related to electronic commerce, including the removal of barriers to digital trade and the protection of consumer privacy.
Chapter 15: Competition Policy
This chapter includes provisions related to fair competition, including measures to prevent anti-competitive practices and provisions related to state-owned enterprises.
Chapter 16: State-Owned Enterprises and Designated Monopolies
This chapter includes provisions related to state-owned enterprises and designated monopolies, such as requirements for transparency and non-discriminatory treatment.
Chapter 17: Labor
This chapter includes provisions related to labor rights, such as the right to collective bargaining and the elimination of forced labor.
Chapter 18: Environment
This chapter includes provisions related to environmental protection, such as measures to combat illegal wildlife trade and provisions related to sustainable forest management.
Chapter 19: Dispute Settlement
This chapter outlines the procedures that must be followed to settle disputes between the countries regarding the interpretation or implementation of the agreement.
Chapter 20: General Provisions and Exceptions
This chapter includes general provisions related to the interpretation and implementation of the agreement, as well as exceptions to the agreement`s provisions.
Overall, the USMCA trade agreement replaces NAFTA with a modernized agreement that aims to improve trade relations between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. If you`re interested in learning more, be sure to check out the full text of the agreement in PDF format.