Why 🐸 NorthAmericanTradePolicy picked: United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Amphenol Optimize

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Source: ustr.gov

United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Amphenol Optimize pbrouillette Fri, 10/23/2026 - 16:06 <p>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.</p> <p>Actions taken by the facility to address the matter include: </p> 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. <p>Actions taken by the Government of Mexico to address the matter include: </p> 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. <p>Background</p> <p>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.  <br/> <br/>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.  </p> <p>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 <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/Amphenol%20Resumption%20of%20Liquidation.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>Read the full course of remediation <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Issue_Areas/Enforcement/Section%20301/02-A.%20Amphenol%20-%20Course%20of%20Remediation%20-%20FINAL.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>Read an unofficial courtesy Spanish translation of the full course of remediation <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Issue_Areas/Enforcement/Section%20301/02-B.%20Amphenol%20-%20Course%20of%20Remediation%20Courtesy%20Translation.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>Information about previous requests can be found <a href="https://ustr.gov/trade-topics/enforcement/dispute-settlement-proceedings/fta-dispute-settlement/usmca/chapter-31-annex-facility-specific-rapid-response-labor-mechanism" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>###</p>