SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The USMCA entered into force on July 1, 2020, between the United States, Mexico, and Canada (collectively, the Parties).^[1] Article 34.7.1 of the USMCA provides that the Agreement must terminate 16 years after the date of entry into force— i.e., July 1, 2036—unless each Party confirms that it wishes to continue the Agreement for a new 16-year term. Pursuant to Article 34.7.2 of the USMCA, the Free Trade Commission (Commission), composed of the three Parties, convened on July 1, 2026, to conduct the first joint review of the operation of the Agreement. At that meeting, the United States did not agree to extend the Agreement for a new 16-year term. As such, pursuant to Articles 34.7.4-6 of the USMCA, the Commission will meet to conduct a joint review annually until each of the three Parties confirms its wish to extend the term of this Agreement for another 16-year period or the term of the Agreement expires, whichever is earlier.

In accordance with Section 611 of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4611), USTR is publishing this notice regarding the joint review to provide an opportunity for the presentation of views relating to the operation of the USMCA. USTR invites interested persons to submit written comments (Part II) or oral testimony (Part III) on matters relevant to the joint review.

II. Request for Public Comments

Interested persons must submit written comments using the docket titled “Request for Comments on the Operation of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada,” docket number USTR-2026-0595, using the electronic portal at comments.ustr.gov/​s/​ and following the instructions in Part IV below. To be assured of consideration, USTR must receive written comments by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 12, 2027. Additional instructions on how to submit written comments are provided below in Part IV.

In particular, this notice invites comments regarding:

• Any aspect of the operation or implementation of the USMCA;
• Any issues of compliance with the USMCA;
• Recommendations for specific actions that USTR should propose ahead of the joint review;
• Factors affecting the investment climate in North America and in the territories of each Party, as well as the effectiveness of the USMCA in promoting investment that strengthens U.S. competitiveness, productivity, and technological leadership; and
• Strategies for strengthening North American economic security and competitiveness and cooperation on ( printed page 63380) issues related to non-market policies and practices of other countries.

III. Hearing Participation

USTR will convene a public hearing. Details regarding the date and location of the public hearing will be published to USTR's website ( www.ustr.gov). Please visit USTR's website for any updates to the hearing schedule. Persons wishing to appear at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention and a summary of the proposed testimony by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 12, 2027. Requests to appear must include a summary of testimony, and may be accompanied by a prehearing submission. Remarks at the hearing are limited to five minutes to allow for possible questions. Because the hearing will be public, testimony should not include any business confidential information (BCI).

Small businesses (generally defined by the Small Business Administration as firms with fewer than 500 employees) or organizations representing small business members that submit comments should self-identify as such, so that USTR may be aware of issues of particular interest to small businesses.

Interested persons must submit their request to appear and a summary of the testimony using the docket titled “Request to Appear at the Hearing on the Operation of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada,” docket number USTR-2026-0596, using the electronic portal at comments.ustr.gov/​s/​ and following the instructions in Part IV below. To be assured of consideration, USTR must receive the request to appear and the summary of testimony by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 12, 2027.

Post-hearing rebuttal comments, which should be limited to rebutting or supplementing testimony presented at the hearing, may be submitted within seven calendar days after the last day of the public hearing. Rebuttal comments must be submitted to the appropriate docket titled “Request for Comments on the Operation of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada,” docket number USTR-2026-0595, using the electronic portal at comments.ustr.gov/​s/​ and following the instructions in Part IV.

IV. Procedures for Written Submissions

To be assured of consideration, submit written comments, requests to appear at the hearing, summaries of testimony, and post-hearing rebuttal comments using the appropriate dockets on the portal at comments.ustr.gov/​s/​ and as detailed in Parts II and III. All submissions must be in English. You do not need to establish an account to submit comments or a request to testify. The first screen allows you to enter identification and contact information. Third party organizations such as law firms, trade associations, or customs brokers should identify the full legal name of the organization they represent and identify the primary point of contact for the submission. USTR may not consider a comment or request if insufficient information is provided.

You may upload documents and indicate whether USTR should treat the documents as business confidential or public information. Any page containing BCI must be clearly marked “BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL” on the top of that page and the submission should clearly indicate, via brackets, highlighting, or other means, the specific information that is BCI. If requesting confidential treatment, you must certify in writing that the information would not customarily be released to the public. Interested persons uploading attachments containing BCI also must submit a public version of their comments.

91 FR 63379