The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is accepting comments through Jan. 7, 2026, on the operation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement with respect to automotive goods.
USTR states that the USMCA includes new rules of origin to claim preferential treatment for automotive goods, including higher regional value content thresholds, mandatory requirements to produce core parts in the region, mandatory steel and aluminum purchasing requirements, and a labor value content requirement. The USMCA allows vehicle producers to request an alternative staging regime for these requirements that would permit a longer period of transition to help ensure that future production is able to meet the new rules.
To aid in preparing its biennial review of the operation of the USMCA with respect to trade in automotive goods, USTR is accepting input from producers of automotive goods, labor organizations, and other interested parties regarding the following.
- the overall operation of the USMCA with respect to automotive goods
- actions taken by automotive and parts producers to demonstrate compliance with the USMCA automotive rules of origin
- the use of alternative staging regimes by vehicle producers to meet the USMCA automotive rules of origin
- enforcement of the USMCA automotive rules of origin, including the alternative staging regimes and the automotive certification process for steel and aluminum content, LVC, and RVC
- whether the current USMCA automotive rules of origin are effective and relevant in light of new technology and changes in the content, production processes, and character of automotive goods
- any other topics relevant to the trade in automotive goods under the USMCA
USTR expects to submit the results of this review to Congress no later than July 1, 2026. The agency’s first and second reports, completed in 2022 and 2024, are available here.
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