USMCA: Fourth Round in September; 85% of Mexican Exports Tariff-Free

Mexico and the United States concluded the third USMCA review round on July 23 in Mexico City and agreed to meet in Washington during the first two weeks of September 2026, according to a joint communiqué from the Ministry of Economy and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

The talks, led by Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, were described as "constructive" by both delegations. Greer also met with President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace to review progress. The communiqué reported advances in steel, aluminum, derivative products, and regional value chains, as well as in the automotive and agricultural sectors and electronic payment services. These advances carry direct weight for energy infrastructure manufacturing: wind towers, solar structures, transformers, and pipelines all depend on steel and aluminum inputs subject to the treaty's rules of origin. The USMCA underpins regional trade of nearly $1.6 trillion, according to figures cited by Forbes México.

The Ministry of Economy noted that 85 percent of Mexican exports continue to enter the U.S. market duty-free by complying with the treaty's rules of origin. The third round, held July 21 to 23, was the first under the new annual review framework that took effect on July 1, following the United States' decision not to extend the treaty for another 16 years and to opt instead for annual reviews through 2036. In parallel, Mexico maintains its request to adjust Section 232 tariffs, which impose 25 percent on automobiles and 50 percent on Mexican steel and aluminum, with Washington having shown no signs of flexibility on this front, according to El Financiero.

The fourth round in Washington will continue a process whose most complex chapters are expected to unfold in 2027. For the region's energy sectors, the USMCA review is the most consequential variable shaping investment decisions in manufacturing and cross-border supply chains.

This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.