USMCA Advocacy
List of Proposals and Comments that Promote Human Rights over Profits
For instructions on how to submit a comment scroll down or watch this tutorial.
** Every comment submitted to the USTR must specify the Chapter, the Industry/Sectors and the Issue it pertains to – Below we suggest which chapters, industries/sectors and issues correspond to the proposed comments**
Rapid Response Labor Mechanism and Labor Conventions
- Labor (Chapter 23)
- Industries/Sectors: Agriculture, Animal Products, Dairy, Textiles and Apparel, Processed Food, Other
- Issues: Agriculture, Labor, Standards, Transparency, Other
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The Rapid Response Labor Mechanism must be binding for all parties and strengthened from a human rights, gender, and intercultural perspective. This includes the economic sectors where abuses and violations of rights have been documented, ensuring that states can demand respect for all rights.
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All member countries must commit to ratifying and implementing International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions, specifically Conventions 81, 129, and 190. During implementation, ensure mechanisms for the participation of workers, unions, and civil society organizations.
Arms Trade and Human Security
- Investment (Chapter 14): the rationale for linking arms-related comments to Chapter 14 on Investment is due to its provisions addressing transfers that can be delayed when criminal offenses occur, which can encompass matters of arms trafficking. This connection allows us to frame the discussion around the broader implications of investment and security.
- Industries/Sectors: Other
- Issues: Other
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Strengthen control and traceability of the arms trade among the three USMCA countries. Incorporate due diligence criteria for arms export and import into the Treaty (for example, in Article 31 or as a new chapter on arms).
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Harmonize regulatory standards on the sale and possession of firearms across the three countries. Establish binding commitments on domestic arms trade regulation, with minimum common measures.
Migration
- Labor (Chapter 23)
- Industries/Sectors: All, Other
- Issues: Labor, Other
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Recognition of migrant workers’ rights in the U.S. and Canada within the Treaty, and the possibility of invoking the Rapid Response Mechanism to defend them. Push for mechanisms leading to the legal status of migrant workers from member countries.
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Create dialogue mechanisms to develop a legalization process for all undocumented Mexican nationals. This would identify each person’s status and assess the viability of obtaining legal residency in line with their economic activity, all under a human rights framework.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)
- Good Regulatory Practices (Chapter 28)
- Industries/Sector: All, Other
- Issues: Investor State Dispute Settlement
Fully eliminate Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions, which was partially eliminated when USMCA was originally negotiated. ISDS is a threat to national sovereignty and has been used by foreign corporations to undermine environmental, labor, and human rights protections. Other provisions in Chapter 28 should likewise support the right of governments to set sufficiently strong and protective policy without interference.
Instructions on how to submit a public comment on the USTR portal:
Step 1: Click the link to the USTR Public Comments portal
Step 2: Submitter Information Page
Complete the Submitter Information page (Organization Name is optional) – click NEXT
Step 3: Comments Page
a. Select the chapter(s) of the USMCA on which you are commenting
b. Select the Industries or Sectors on which you are commenting
c. Select the issues on which you are commenting
Step 4
Enter your comments in the general comments text box at the bottom of the page, the first text box is optional, for Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes if any – your general comment must be entered in the second text box.
Step 5: Click NEXT
Step 6: Attachments: this is optional, unless you have supporting documents you can upload, click NEXT
Step 7: Review Public Version & Submit: after checking if the information is correct, click SUBMIT