Senate Finance Committee Leaders Push USTR on USMCA Disputes

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and ranking member Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, told U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai that USMCA's full potential has not been realized, and that USTR must pursue "robust enforcement."

The Jan. 26 letter covers a multitude of complaints about Mexican and Canadian policies, including Mexican energy, biotech, environment and forced labor issues and Canadian dairy tariff rate quotas.

"Not only has Mexico failed to ensure biotechnology products are subject to a timely, transparent, and science-based approval process -- the government has actually been backsliding on these commitments," they wrote.

The two said they were concerned that Mexico has not made sufficient progress in protecting the vaquita porpoise and stopping illegal trafficking of the totoaba fish. "We urge USTR to take additional action as necessary, including by elevating the environmental consultations to full-fledged dispute settlement consultations," they wrote.

They referred to the withhold release order on Mexican tomatoes, saying: "It is unacceptable that, nearly three years after USMCA entered into force, Mexico has not eliminated forced labor within its borders, and we urge USTR in the strongest terms to work with CBP to resolve this issue."

They also complained about Canadian proposals that have not yet become law, such as a bill on online streaming that would require Netflix or Disney to fund Canadian-made content and promote it on their platforms.