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USMCA: Labor Provisions
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) entered
into force on July 1, 2020, replacing the 1994 North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). USMCA
establishes new and updated provisions on the protection of
worker rights and enforcement of labor commitments.
Congress approved implementing legislation for USMCA
(H.R. 5430) on December 19, 2019. President Trump
signed the legislation into law on January 29, 2020 (P.L.
116-113).
The protection of worker rights and the enforceability of
labor provisions were a major congressional concern
throughout the USMCA negotiations and remained an issue
after the three countries concluded the agreement in
September 2018. In response, the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR) and some Members of the House of
Representatives negotiated changes to USMCA; most of the
changes modified the labor provisions. USTR then
negotiated the proposed amendments with Canada and
Mexico. USMCA's new labor provisions, compared to
recent U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs), may be
considered for inclusion in future FTAs.
Historically, U.S. labor advocates have expressed concern
over FTAs with developing countries, due to those
countries' relatively lower wages and labor standards, and
have sought more enforceable labor provisions in U.S.
FTAs. Proponents of FTAs such as NAFTA and USMCA
argue that they help improve standards, build capacity to
support worker rights in developing countries, and enhance
economic development and growth. In the long run, FTAs
help reallocate resources to more efficient industries,
support higher-paying U.S. jobs in some sectors, and,
according to most economists, have a net positive effect on
the U.S. economy. At the same time, trade liberalization
can have adjustment costs and job losses in other industries
and regions of the country. The U.S. International Trade
Commission estimated that, if fully implemented, Mexico's
USMCA labor commitments would increase Mexican union
wages and help reduce wage disparity.
NAF TA
NAFTA's labor provisions were in a side agreement called
the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation
(NAALC), which contained 11 guiding principles
pertaining to worker rights and provisions on technical
assistance, capacity building, and separate dispute
procedures. A goal of the agreement was to resolve issues
in a cooperative manner through ministerial consultations in
numerous areas, including freedom of association and
collective bargaining. Full dispute resolution procedures
applied to a country's persistent pattern of failure in
trade-related cases to enforce its own laws regarding child
labor, minimum wage, and occupational safety and health.

Updated January 12, 2023

US MCA Provksions
USMCA includes components of more recent U.S. FTAs
that strengthen NAFTA provisions and provide recourse to
the same dispute settlement mechanism as other parts of the
agreement. It requires parties to
 Adopt and maintain in statutes and regulation, and
practices, worker rights as stated in the 1998 ILO
Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work, in addition to acceptable conditions of work with
respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and
occupational safety and health.
 Not waive or otherwise derogate from its statues or
regulations.
 Not fail to effectively enforce labor laws through a
sustained or recurring course of action or inaction in a
manner affecting trade or investment between parties.
 Promote compliance with labor laws through
appropriate government action, such as appointing and
training inspectors or monitoring compliance and
investigating suspected violations.
For the first time in a U.S. FTA, the USMCA prohibits
imports of goods made by forced labor, and adds new
commitments related to violence against workers, migrant
worker protections, and workplace discrimination. It
maintains standard U.S. FTA language that each party
retains the right to exercise reasonable enforcement
discretion and to make bona fide decisions on the
allocation of enforcement resources. Additionally, it
specifies that the labor chapter shall not be construed to
empower another party to undertake labor law enforcement
in the territory of another party.
USMCA Protocol of Amendment: Key Labor Changes
Some Members of Congress criticized the original text of the
USMCA chapters on labor and dispute settlement (DS) and
negotiated the following key changes to the initial agreement:
*   Prevention of panel blocking in dispute settlement.
Ensures the formation of a panel in dispute cases where a
party refuses to participate in the selection of panelists.
   In a Manner Affecting Trade and Investment. Shifts the
burden of proof by stating that an alleged violation of
labor obligations affects trade and investment, unless
otherwise demonstrated.
   Rapid Response Mechanism. Adds a new rapid response
mechanism to provide for an independent panel
investigation of denial of certain labor rights at covered
facilities, as opposed to a government inspection.
   Mexico's Labor Reform Monitoring. USMCA
implementing legislation creates a new interagency
committee, labor attaches, and reporting requirements to
Congress on Mexico's implementation of labor reforms.
   New or amended provisions on Rules of Procedure for
DS, forced labor, and violence against workers.

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