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USMCA Dispute Settlement

33 posts

What Was the Purpose and Intent of the USMCA?

This is from the first USMCA Chapter 31 panel report, on Canada -Dairy TRQs, circulated today: c) Purpose and Intent of the Treaty As the Preamble to the Treaty explains, the Parties resolved to promote trade between the signatory states by creating “freer, fairer markets,” and “incentivizing the production and

Fit for Whose Purpose?: How Panelists Interpret Labor Rights in Trade, and What That Tells Us about the Trade/Labor Relationship

While many of us were celebrating the holidays with family, an important law review article dropped silently and inconspicuously into the fray. That article, Fit for Purpose: The Extent and Enforcement of International Trade Agreement Labor Obligations After Guatemala – Labor Obligations Decision, was written by Professor Kevin Banks, who served

USMCA State-State DS Is Keeping Busy

Panel composition in a second USMCA dispute, on U.S. - Solar Safeguards, was recently announced (the first USCMA dispute panel to be composed was discussed here). The panelists are: * Mario Matus, Chair, by agreement of the disputing Parties * Jennifer Hillman, Appointed by Canada, the complaining Party * Donald M. McRae,

USMCA Panel Composition in Dairy Case Announced

The USMCA Secretariat has posted information on the panel members in the Dairy TRQ case: Panel Selection — Dairy Tariff-Rate Quotas On July 5, 2021, the Parties to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Chapter 31 dispute Dairy TRQ Allocation Measures (CDA-USA-2021-31-01) completed the Panel selection process. The Panel is composed of the

Biden’s Worker-Centered Trade Policy: Whose Workers?

As Simon mentioned in an earlier post, various labor-related complaints and requests under USMCA are “heating up.” This activity reinforces the Biden Administration’s new “worker-centered trade policy” that, according to USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai, “will foster broad-based, equitable growth, increase innovation, and give workers a seat at the table.

US Solar Safeguard: How much discretion is too much?

Yesterday Canada requested consultations under USMCA regarding the “imposition and ongoing application” to Canada of the US safeguard measure on solar measures. Canada argues that the application of the safeguard to Canada violates the US obligation to exclude USMCA Parties from the scope of the safeguard unless imports from that

The First USMCA Complaint

The first USMCA consultations request is here. Not surprisingly, it relates to Canadian dairy TRQs, a frequent source of trade irritation. Is there a violation? I have no idea! Some of the issues seem factual in nature. For example, there is a claim under this provision: 11. A Party administering

The USMCA Chapter 31 Dispute Settlement Roster Is Set

The roster of panelists for USMCA Chapter 31 state-state dispute settlement is out (the list of rapid response labor panelists for the Canada-Mexico mechanism is here, and for the U.S.-Mexico mechanism is here). Recall that the absence of a roster under NAFTA appears to have been a cause

Enforcement of the USMCA: Establish a Roster Now?

Bloomberg reports: The White House and congressional Democrats have opened talks to resolve outstanding details that have thus far held up the new North American trade deal, according to people briefed on discussions between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and trade chief Robert Lighthizer. Pelosi told Lighthizer that she will designate

NAFTA/USMCA State-State Dispute Settlement Panels

This question (asked by Senator Ron Wyden) is from the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Questions for the Record for Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, as part of a recent hearing: Question 15 The revised NAFTA includes some clear improvements over the status quo, especially in the Digital Trade chapter. But