Retailers Urge Meaningful Engagement as USMCA Review Begins

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement as the United States, Mexico, and Canada reach the July 1 date for the formal review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: 

USMCA is a critical agreement for the North American economy, and it is essential that all parties engage in meaningful discussions that strengthen the pact and preserve the certainty businesses need to serve consumers. RILA understands the administration’s desire to secure the best possible deal for the American people and believes that a strong, modernized USMCA can help deliver that outcome. 

“USMCA provides the certainty retailers need to plan supply chains, invest in North America, and keep goods moving efficiently for consumers,” said Ellen Jackson, RILA director. “Supply chains take years to establish. A strong agreement helps businesses deliver the products families need and protects consumers from disruptions caused by prolonged uncertainty. To continue sustaining the growth the agreement has spurred, it is imperative to preserve duty-free treatment for USMCA-qualifying goods.” 

Retailers are ready to work with the administration, Congress, and stakeholders across North America to arrive at an agreement that delivers for the American people, strengthens regional competitiveness, and supports a stable trading relationship among the United States, Mexico, and Canada. 

RILA joined a letter to leaders from all three nations from a coalition of groups representing the textile, apparel, footwear, and retail industries across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, urging preservation of USMCA’s trilateral framework. 

“The USMCA underpins North American supply chains by establishing clear and predictable rules and providing a long-term framework that supports jobs, investment, and regional trade,” the groups wrote. “Maintaining the Agreement's core structure will help avoid unnecessary trade disruptions and business uncertainty. Our industries stand ready to serve as a resource and partner in continued collaboration throughout the review process.” 

Read the letter here.