USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) contains quantitative restraints associated with a reduced duty rate for agricultural products that meet the requirements for a “qualifying good." A qualifying good is one that meets the product specific rule of origin; however, U.S. materials or inputs are of a non-party, i.e., U.S. materials are considered non-originating.
Raed more HERE.
On September 17, 2025, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published in the Federal Register (90 FR 44869) Request for Public Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Relating to the Operation of the Agreement Between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada.
USTR is commencing a public consultation process in advance of the joint review (Joint Review) of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA or Agreement) on July 1, 2026. As directed by Congress, USTR is seeking public comments on the operation of the Agreement, including on the operation of the North American Competitiveness Committee (Competitiveness Committee) established therein.
On September 8, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (90 FR 43155) Agreement Between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA) Implementing Regulations Related to Textile and Apparel Goods, Automotive Goods, and Other USMCA Provisions; Correcting Amendments.
Apparel goods of chapter 62, cut or knit-to-shape, and sewn or otherwise assembled in a CAFTA-DR country, utilizing materials from Mexico, as provided for in chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21
January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
Monday January 2, 2024
| OVERALL LIMIT |
100,000,000 square meter equivalents (SME) Goods of chapter 62 sub-limits use HTS1 9822.05.11 for quota limited entries. |
|---|---|
| SUB LIMITS | 45,000,000 Square Meter Equivalent (SME) Trousers, skirts, and parts thereof, of cotton or man-made fibers, or subject to cotton or man-made fiber restraints (see chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. note 21(b)(i) for qualifying HTS numbers.) |
| SUBLIMITS | 20,000,000 SME sublimit for cotton blue denim Trousers and skirts (see chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. note 21(b)(ii) for qualifying HTS numbers.) |
| SUBLIMITS | 1,000,000 SME sublimit for apparel goods, not knitted or crocheted. Containing 36 percent or more by weight of wool or subject to wool restraints (see chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. note 21(b)(iii) for qualifying HTS numbers.) |
| First Tariff Field | Second Tariff Field |
|---|---|
| 9822.05.11 | see chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21(b) for details |
| 9822.05.13 | see chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21(c) for details of certain wool garments that are exempt from the limit. |
Use entry type code 02, 06, 07, 12, 23, 32, 38, or 52
Report in units of measure as shown in the HTSUS.
Read more from CBP HERE.
Read more from Agathon Associates HERE.
Apparel goods of chapter 62, cut or knit-to-shape, and sewn or otherwise assembled in a CAFTA-DR country, utilizing materials from Mexico, as provided for in chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21
Read more HERE.
Burlington Industries LLC, Greensboro, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $10,183,500 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity letter contract for poly/wool tropical blue cloth. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a two-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Mexico, with an Aug. 4, 2024, ordering period end date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2022 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-22-D-1568).
*Small business
U.S. Customs has issued broker guidance for USMCA TPLs for the quota period January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022.
"Now that the USMCA has been approved by all three countries, an historic new chapter for North American trade has begun. This landmark achievement would not be possible without President Trump’s leadership and determination to strengthen our economy, and the hard work of our negotiating partners in Canada and Mexico. USMCA is the gold standard by which all future trade agreements will be judged, and citizens of all three countries will benefit for years to come."
Background:
USMCA was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on January 29, 2020, after it received overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. The President was elected on replacing NAFTA with an agreement that puts American workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses first. He achieved this goal with the USMCA, an agreement that will bring manufacturing jobs back, help service industry workers, and raise wages.
All three countries are working together closely on implementation in advance of the Agreement’s entry into force.
"On behalf of the U.S. textile industry, thank you to President Trump, Ambassador Lighthizer and the entire U.S. negotiating team for your hard work in getting USMCA done," said NCTO Chairman Marty Moran, CEO of Jefferson, GA-based Buhler Quality Yarns Corp.
"The new deal is better than NAFTA for the U.S. textile industry in many aspects and NCTO is pleased to endorse it," Moran added.
"NCTO was in continuous communication with U.S. negotiators during USMCA talks, urging them to preserve and enhance the North American textile supply chain, and the deal reflects many of NCTO's priorities," Moran finished as he noted U.S. textile-related exports to Canada and Mexico totaled a combined $11.8 billion in 2017.
"NCTO will begin educating Congress immediately on how USMCA is an improvement over NAFTA and assuming any implementing legislation is restricted to the terms of the agreement as negotiated, we will press for its passage in early 2019," said NCTO President & CEO Auggie Tantillo
USMCA improvements over NAFTA include:
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has instituted an investigation to assess the likely impact of a trade agreement that the President has announced he intends to enter into with Mexico and Canada.
The investigation, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative in a letter received on August 31, 2018.
The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 requires the USITC to prepare a report that assesses the likely impact of the Agreement on the U.S. economy as a whole and on specific industry sectors and the interests of U.S. consumers. The USITC’s report, which will be public, is due to the President and the Congress no more than 105 days after the President signs the Agreement, which he can do 90 days after he notifies Congress of his intent to do so. The President notified Congress on August 31, 2018, of his intent to enter into the Agreement.
The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation beginning at 9:30 a.m. on November 15, 2018. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on October 29, 2018, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on December 20, 2018. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
Further information on the scope of the investigation and the procedures for written submissions is available in the USITC’s notice of investigation, dated October 12, 2018, which can be obtained from the USITC web site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or 202-205-2000.
GOODS MARKET ACCESS
New commitments have been included in the Market Access chapter to reflect developments in United States trade agreements that address non-tariff barriers related to trade in remanufactured goods, import licensing, and export licensing.
Key Achievement: Exceeding NAFTA 1.0 and TPP Standards to More Effectively Support Trade in Manufactured Goods
The new Market Access chapter will more effectively support trade in manufactured goods between the United States and Mexico by removing provisions that are no longer relevant, updating key references, and affirming commitments that have phased in from the original agreement.
Specifically, the Market Access chapter:
TEXTILES
The new provisions on textiles incentivize greater United States and Mexican production in textiles and apparel trade, strengthen customs enforcement, and facilitate broader consultation and cooperation among the Parties on issues related to textiles and apparel trade.
Key Achievement: Strengthening Supply Chains to Provide New Market Opportunities for the Textile and Apparel Sector
The provisions will:
The new Textiles chapter provisions are stronger than those in NAFTA 1.0 with respect to both enforcement and incentivizing North American production of textiles.
LAREDO, Texas — Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on Thursday seized nearly 79,000 counterfeit items that included apparel and consumer electronics from luxury and sporting trademark designers such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Nike, Apple, Samsung and Sony.
HSI estimates the value of the seized items at more than $16 million. This seizure represents HSI's second-largest counterfeit seizure in Laredo.
This seizure is being investigated by HSI with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mexican Customs and representatives from the trademark industry.
"Trafficking counterfeit goods poses a triple threat," said Tim Tubbs, deputy special agent in charge of HSI Laredo. "Counterfeit merchandise wreaks havoc on local economies, threatens the health and safety of the American public, and funds criminal organizations engaged in other illegal activities."
On May 17, HSI special agents conducted surveillance of a public storage facility in Laredo and observed several individuals transferring boxes from a leased storage unit to pickup trucks and vans with Mexican license plates. While agents observed the storage facility, a large air courier box truck arrived to unload suspected trademark infringed merchandise to waiting pickup trucks and vans. HSI then detained and seized 275 boxes containing 78,908 items of suspected trademark-infringed merchandise from this location. No one was arrested in connection to this seizure. This is an ongoing investigation.
According to HSI, the trademark-infringed merchandise seized was shipped in large boxes from China to an international cargo terminal located in Laredo, Texas. The boxes were manifested to fictitious Laredo recipients and addresses.
Historical information suggests that smugglers typically transport illicit goods into Mexico often fail to file required export documents through CBP's Automated Commercial Environment, and exploit the ports of entry by clandestinely smuggling merchandise to Mexico. Once in Mexico, smugglers pay bribes to Mexican cartels who often extort Mexican regulatory and law enforcement officials so that the merchandise passes without inspection and payment of duties.
The HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), made up of 23 different federal agencies and four international agencies, and oversees enforcement activities targeting the trafficking of counterfeit goods. Last fiscal year, HSI and its sister agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, made more than 32,000 seizures involving counterfeit goods with an estimated value of more than $1.2 billion MSRP. The International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition estimates intellectual property crime annually costs U.S. businesses several hundred billion dollars in lost revenues.
Anyone with information about the sale of counterfeit items can submit a tip at the IPR Center website. Reports can also be made to the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
Additionally, CBP and SAT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cargo Pre-Inspection Program and Unified Cargo Processing (UCP). This MOU states the bilateral commitment for the further implementation of cargo-pre inspection and UCP programs, through which Mexican customs officers and CBP officers will work together to inspect and process cargo shipments.
There is no charge to participate, but advance registration is required.
Mexico’s standards agency, the Dirección General de Normas (DGN), has published a notice (http://otexa.trade.gov/PDFs/DOFNMXA240INNTEX.pdf) inviting interested parties to comment on a proposed modification to textile labeling standard NMX-A-240-INNTEX-2009, which covers the use of graphics/symbols in care labels. Comments must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the notice’s publication, or by August 29, 2015.
Mexico proposes to cancel NMX-A-240-INNTEX-2009 and replace it with an updated standard, NMX-A-3758-INNTEX-2014. The differences between the two standards are not specified in the notice. Interested parties may review the complete document by visiting DGN’s offices in Mexico City or request a copy from Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Normalización Textil (INNTEX). There may be a charge associated with obtaining the full version of the standard from INNTEX.
Parties interested in providing comments on the proposed standard should do so well in advance of the August 29, 2015 deadline. Comments must be submitted to INNTEX, via email to rpineda@inntex.org.mx and vpalacios@inntex.org.mx. If submitting comments by mail or courier, they should be sent to the following address:
Instituto Nacional de Normalización Textil, A.C. (INNTEX)
Calle Tolsá número 54
Colonia Centro
Delegación Cuauhtémoc
Código postal 06040, México, D.F.
We advise U.S. exporters with customers in Mexico to be in close contact with their customers, agents, and/or customs brokers to ensure that they are aware of Mexico’s current standards and other requirements. Specifically, Mexico’s NMX-A-2076-INNTEX-2013 and NMX-A-6938-INNTEX-2013 were updated earlier this year, and the changes will be effective on September 7th, 2015. These standards cover labeling rules for natural and synthetic fibers. In response to numerous requests for clarification from industry, last month DGN issued a “dictamen” (opinion) (http://otexa.trade.gov/PDFs/criterio_NMX6938.pdf) for NMX-6938 to clarify that natural fibers may be listed in all capital letters, all lower case letters, or with the first letter capitalized and the rest in lower case.
For more information, please contact:
Laurie Mease
U.S. Department of Commerce
Office of Textiles and Apparel
Laurie.Mease@trade.gov
Tel: 202-482-3400
