United States Seeks Mexico’s Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Madobox pbrouillette Mon, 11/02/2026 - 15:27

WASHINGTON — The Office of the United States Trade Representative has invoked the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review whether workers at Madobox, S.A. de C.V. (Madobox), located in the city of Uruapan in the state of Michoacán, Mexico, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The U.S. request for review follows an RRM petition received from a Mexican labor union alleging that Madobox is interfering with union activity at the facility. The United States has suspended liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the Madobox facility, which produces boxes for commercial use.

Background

The United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative) and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On September 30, 2026, the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores y Empleados de la Industria del Comercio, Alimenticia, Textil, Automotriz, Metalúrgica, Servicios y Distribución “Generalísimo José María Morelos y Pavón”—a Mexican labor union affiliated with the Confederacion Central Nacional (COCENA)—filed a Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) petition alleging a denial of rights at Madobox. The petition alleges that Madobox is interfering with union activity at the facility, including by unlawfully arranging a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that was negotiated without workers, by coercing and misinforming workers about the CBA and their union rights, and by unlawfully dismissing workers in retaliation for union activity. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days.

After conducting this review, the ILC determined that there is sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms under the USMCA. As a result, the Trade Representative has submitted a request to Mexico under Annex 31-A of the USMCA that Mexico review whether workers at Madobox are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The Trade Representative has also directed the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from Madobox.  

Mexico has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and, if it agrees, 45 days from today to complete the review.  

A copy of the request for review can be found here.

A copy of the letter to the Secretary of the Treasury can be found here.

Information about previous requests can be found here.

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United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Amphenol Optimize pbrouillette Fri, 10/23/2026 - 16:06

WASHINGTON — The United States today announced the successful resolution of the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) matter at the Amphenol Optimize México, S.A. de C.V. (Amphenol) facility located in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, which manufactures automotive and aerospace connectors, cables, and components. The United States and Mexico agreed on a course of remediation to address labor rights violations occurring at the facility, including employer interference in union activity and retaliatory dismissals of workers. That plan has now been implemented, and the Denial of Rights concerns raised in the U.S. request for review have been remediated. As a result, the United States Trade Representative has directed the Secretary of the Treasury to resume liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the facility.

Actions taken by the facility to address the matter include: 

Reinstating nine workers with full backpay and benefits;  Implementing a neutrality statement and guidelines related to the freedom of association and collective bargaining; and Installing and publicizing a complaint mechanism through which workers can report violations of their rights and breaches of company policies.

Actions taken by the Government of Mexico to address the matter include: 

Delivering in-person trainings for all company personnel on the freedom of association and collective bargaining;  Monitoring the facility and engaging with workers and the company throughout its review period; and Maintaining a direct email address, reporting platform, and telephone line for workers to anonymously report any potential acts of unlawful interference or other violations of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, and timely investigating any allegations.

Background

The United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On April 11, 2025, the ILC received an RRM petition from the Sindicato Industrial Operaciones y Manufacturas, a Mexican labor union. The petition alleged that Amphenol had violated workers’ right to freedom of association and collective bargaining by coercing workers to vote for the company-favored outcome during a union vote, discouraging workers from joining an independent union, and taking reprisals against workers due to their union preferences, including through dismissals. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days. The ILC determined that there was sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms.  
 
As a result, on May 9, 2025, the United States Trade Representative submitted a request to Mexico to review the matter. Mexico accepted the request, conducted an investigation, and worked with Amphenol to provide remediation to dismissed workers and implement facility-wide measures aimed at safeguarding freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The United States has reviewed the matter and concluded the situation to have been remediated.  

As a result of the above actions taken by the facility and Mexico to resolve the action, the United States agrees that there is no ongoing denial of rights. Ambassador Greer’s letter directing the Secretary of the Treasury to resume liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the facility is available here.

Read the full course of remediation here.

Read an unofficial courtesy Spanish translation of the full course of remediation here.

Information about previous requests can be found here.

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United States and Mexico Announce Course of Remediation at Minera Peñasquito pbrouillette Fri, 10/23/2026 - 09:06

WASHINGTON — The Office of the United States Trade Representative and the Government of Mexico (Mexico) today announced a course of remediation at Minera Peñasquito, S.A. de C.V. (Newmont Peñasquito), located in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. The remediation plan will help ensure workers at the facility can freely exercise their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.  

Actions already taken by the company to address the matter include:  

Posting and dissemination of a neutrality statement and company guidelines on freedom of association and collective bargaining; and Installation of a complaint mechanism for workers to report violations of their rights anonymously and confidentially.

Under the course of remediation, Mexico will ensure that Newmont Peñasquito will, among other things:

Reinstate and provide full backpay and benefits to two workers;  Distribute hard copies of the neutrality statement and company guidelines related to freedom of association and collective bargaining to all company personnel; Implement the neutrality statement and company guidelines on freedom of association and collective bargaining, including a zero-tolerance policy for violations;  Publicly acknowledge, through meetings with the workers and postings at the facility, the company’s unlawful and interfering practices; Conduct in-person training for all company personnel during work hours regarding rights related to freedom of association and collective bargaining; and Maintain its complaint mechanism for workers to report violations of their rights anonymously and confidentially.

Under the course of remediation, Mexico will:

Review and facilitate the reinstatement and severance processes to ensure two workers receive reinstatement offers and full backpay and benefits, or full severance payments, as applicable; and Maintain a direct email address and telephone line for workers to anonymously report any potential acts of unlawful interference or other violations of workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

The United States and Mexico agreed to establish a deadline of October 28, 2026 to complete the course of remediation.

Background

The United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On May 13, 2026, the ILC received an RRM petition from the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalúrgicos, Siderúrgicos y Similares de la República Mexicana (Los Mineros), a Mexican labor union. The petition alleged that Newmont Peñasquito had violated workers’ rights by retaliating against workers for engaging in union activity, including through unlawful dismissals. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days.

The ILC determined that there was sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms. As a result, the United States Trade Representative submitted a request that Mexico review whether workers at Newmont Peñasquito were being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Mexico agreed to conduct a review. Following Mexico’s investigation, the United States and Mexico agreed on a course of remediation.

Read the full course of remediation here.

Read an unofficial courtesy Spanish translation of the full course of remediation here.

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United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Alimentos Grole Facility pbrouillette Mon, 10/19/2026 - 14:41

WASHINGTON – The United States today announced the successful resolution of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) facility-specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) matter regarding the Alimentos Grole, S.A. de C.V. (Alimentos Grole or the company) facility in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico, where workers alleged they were previously denied their freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The United States and Mexico agreed on a course of remediation to address labor rights violations occurring at the facility, including the formation of a company-aligned internal labor committee and retaliatory dismissals of workers. That plan has now been implemented, and the denial of rights concerns raised in our request for review have been remediated. As a result, the United States Trade Representative has directed the Secretary of the Treasury to resume liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the facility.

Actions taken by the facility to address the matter include:

Reinstating nine unlawfully dismissed workers with full backpay and benefits and paying full severance to two workers, based on their respective preferences; Disbanding the company-aligned internal labor committee and ceasing and desisting from utilizing it or encouraging or supporting the formation of any such committee in the future; Developing a facility access protocol that allows the Mexican labor union Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Alimentaria, Mantenimiento Industrial, Similares y Conexos del Estado de Sonora (SITIES) to exercise its rights and perform its duties; Restructuring human resources and labor relations management, and taking appropriate disciplinary action against staff who violated workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights; Implementing and training all company personnel on its neutrality statement intended to ensure there is an environment in which freedom of association and collective bargaining rights are realized without employer interference, and guidelines related to freedom of association and collective bargaining, including a zero-tolerance policy for violations, and committing to retraining as needed; Informing workers about the denial of rights at the facility by conducting meetings and posting notices at the facility to acknowledge Alimentos Grole’s unlawful and interfering practices and affirm the company’s intention to respect workers’ rights in the future; Installing and publicizing a complaint mechanism through which workers can report violations of their rights and breaches of company policies anonymously and confidentially; and Maintaining on the company website and in any internal communications platform the neutrality statement and guidelines, collective bargaining agreement, training materials, and information about complaint mechanisms maintained by the company and the Government of Mexico (Mexico), such that the information is easily accessible to workers.

Actions taken by Mexico to address the matter include:

Monitoring the facility to ensure compliance with the obligations in the course of remediation and compliance with Mexican laws related to freedom of association and collective bargaining; Conducting in-person trainings that are structured to ensure all workers understand their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining and how to exercise it, including by informing workers of the denial of rights at the facility and educating workers on the conciliation process available to any dismissed worker; Conducting a separate workers’ rights training for supervisors, human resources and labor relations personnel, and other high-level and “trusted” officials; and Maintaining a direct email address, reporting platform, and telephone line for workers to anonymously report any potential acts of unlawful interference or other violations of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, and timely investigate any allegations.

Background

The United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On July 29, 2025, the ILC received an RRM petition from a group of former and current Alimentos Grole workers affiliated with SITIES. The petition alleged that Alimentos Grole had violated workers’ rights by threatening and dismissing workers to discourage union activity and by forming and promoting a company-aligned internal union. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days. The ILC determined that there was sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms.  

As a result, on August 28, 2025, the United States submitted a request that Mexico review the matter. Mexico agreed to conduct a review and, on October 10, 2025, concluded a denial of the rights had occurred at the facility. Subsequently, the United States and Mexico agreed on a course of remediation. The United States closely monitored compliance with the course of remediation and has concluded the situation to have been remedied.

Read the full course of remediation here.

Read an unofficial courtesy Spanish translation of the full course of remediation here.

A copy of the letter to the Secretary of the Treasury can be found here.

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United States Seeks Mexico’s Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Carolina Performance Fabrics pbrouillette Tue, 10/13/2026 - 15:03

WASHINGTON — The Office of the United States Trade Representative has invoked the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review whether workers at Carolina Performance Fabrics, S.A. de C.V. (Carolina), located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The United States has suspended liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the Carolina facility, which manufactures specialized, high-performance textiles for the automotive industry.

Background

The United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative) and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On September 10, 2026, the ILC received an RRM petition from a Mexican union affiliated with the Confederación Central Nacional (COCENA). The petition alleges that Carolina has violated workers’ rights by interfering in union activity and retaliating against workers because of their attempts to organize for COCENA, including through harassment, threats, and unlawful dismissals. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days.

After conducting this review, the ILC determined that there is sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms under the USMCA. As a result, the Trade Representative has submitted a request to Mexico under Annex 31-A of the USMCA that Mexico review whether workers at Carolina are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The Trade Representative has also directed the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from Carolina.

Mexico has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and, if it agrees, 45 days from today to complete the review.

A copy of the request for review can be found here.

A copy of the letter to the Secretary of the Treasury can be found here.

Information about previous requests can be found here.

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United States Seeks Mexico’s Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at GLM Components Mexico pbrouillette Thu, 10/08/2026 - 16:57

WASHINGTON — The Office of the United States Trade Representative has invoked the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review whether workers at GLM Components Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (GLM Components), located in Puebla, Mexico, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The United States has suspended liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the GLM Components facility, which manufactures auto parts.

Background

The United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative) and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On September 8, 2026, the ILC received an RRM petition from the Sindicato Regeneración Nacional de Trabajadores y Empleados de la República Mexicana “Morenas,” a Mexican independent union. The petition alleges that GLM Components is violating workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, including by interfering with union activity and unlawfully firing workers in retaliation for union activity.  

The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days. After conducting this review, the ILC determined that there is sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms under the USMCA. As a result, the Trade Representative has submitted a request to Mexico under Annex 31-A of the USMCA that Mexico review whether workers at GLM Components are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The Trade Representative has also directed the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the GLM Components facility.

Mexico has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and, if it agrees, 45 days from today to complete the review.  

A copy of the request for review can be found here.

A copy of the letter to the Secretary of the Treasury can be found here.

Information about previous requests can be found here.

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USTR Seeks Public Comment on the 2027 Joint Review of USMCA pbrouillette Fri, 10/02/2026 - 17:53

WASHINGTON – Today, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced a public consultation process in advance of the 2027 joint review of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA). As directed by Congress, USTR is seeking public comments on the operation of the USMCA. In addition, USTR will convene a public hearing. Details regarding the date and location of the public hearing will be published to USTR’s website (www.ustr.gov).

The deadline for submission of comments is January 12, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

To view the Federal Register notice, click here.

To submit comments, click here.

The Federal Register notice also invites the public to express interest in participating in a public hearing. To request to participate in the hearing, click here. Requests to appear and summaries of testimony must be received by January 12, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

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