The 2026 joint review of the continental trade agreement, explained
The agreement known as USMCA, CUSMA and T-MEC reached its sixth anniversary on July 1, 2026, which opened its first formal joint review. Here is how the review works and what it means for businesses that depend on it.
What the review is
The agreement entered into force on July 1, 2020, replacing NAFTA. Unlike NAFTA, it has a fixed term: 16 years, unless the parties agree to extend it. Article 34.7 builds in a check-up. On the sixth anniversary the Free Trade Commission, made up of ministers from each party, meets for a joint review of how the agreement is working.
As part of the review, each party states in writing whether it wishes to extend the term for another 16-year period. The review is also the moment to raise concerns and propose changes.
How extension works
If all parties confirm, the term automatically extends for 16 years from that point, and the next joint review takes place six years later.
If any party does not confirm, the Commission meets for a joint review every year for the rest of the term. The parties can confirm extension at any of those meetings. If no extension is ever confirmed, the agreement would expire 16 years after entry into force, in 2036.
Where the pressure points are
The provisions most often discussed are the automotive rules of origin, agricultural market access including dairy, energy policy, labor enforcement and digital trade. Measures that sit outside the agreement, such as national-security tariffs, can shape the review even though they are not part of its text.
What businesses should do now
Identify which of your products rely on preferential treatment and which rules of origin they meet. Keep certifications of origin and supporting records current; they must be retained for at least five years.
Follow official notices from each government for the current status of the review and any public consultations. AmerNor's briefings and the Trade Intelligence Engine track the text as it stands today.