USTR seeks first USMCA rapid-response panel to review Mexican mine
The U.S. on Tuesday escalated its first labor concern under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s rapid-response mechanism, requesting that a panel evaluate the alleged labor violations at a Mexican mine after the Mexican government rejected the initial U.S. petition.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in June asked Mexico to review labor concerns at a mine in Zacatecas, Mexico – operated by Grupo México – related to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The Mexican Economy Ministry earlier this month rejected USTR’s petition, arguing the complaints were connected to events that happened before USMCA’s entry into force and, accordingly, outside of the rapid-response mechanism’s scope.
