One agreement. Three names. A working guide.

What every business should know

• In force since July 1, 2020

  It replaced NAFTA (1994). NAFTA still matters for contracts, investments and disputes that began before 2020.

• Joint review in 2026

  On the sixth anniversary, the three countries conduct a joint review (Article 34.7). Without confirmation of extension, the agreement ends 16 years after entry into force, with annual reviews in the meantime.

• Duty-free only if the goods qualify

  Preferential treatment depends on the rules of origin (Chapter 4) and a valid certification of origin (Chapter 5). Goods that do not qualify pay normal tariffs.

• Not every chapter binds all three countries

  Government procurement (Chapter 13) applies between the United States and Mexico only. Investor–state dispute settlement (Chapter 14) is available between the United States and Mexico; Canada's legacy NAFTA claims window closed in 2023.

• Anti-dumping review panels remain

  Chapter 10 keeps binational panel review of anti-dumping and countervailing duty decisions, used in disputes such as softwood lumber.

• Some measures sit outside the agreement

  National-security tariffs and other domestic measures can apply alongside it. Always check the current status with a dated source.

Official texts

The engine answers only from these texts. Where the three versions differ, each government's official text prevails in its own jurisdiction.

• United States — USMCAOffice of the U.S. Trade Representative
• Canada — CUSMAGlobal Affairs Canada
• Mexico — T-MECESSecretaría de Economía