North America

USMexico-Canada Agreement USMCA Renegotiation Why

is

the

USMCA

relevant

to

batteries?

The USMCA governs trade between the US, Mexico, and Canada. It preserves duty-free trade for many products, tightens rules of origin ROO, and requires compliance with labor and environmental standards. The legislation includes a six-year review and expires after 16 years unless renewed. The joint 6-year review deadline is July 1, 2026. Industry representatives submitted comments to the US Trade Representative USTR) in 2025 to inform potential changes.

Industry Recommendations Specific to Batteries and Minerals:

Establishment of a chapter or annex on critical minerals, which includes commitments for guaranteed offtake of critical minerals, rare earths, or related components and coordination on mineral recycling, recovery, and foreign investment in supply chains

Establishment of a Critical Minerals Initiative under the North American Competitiveness Committee to identify and overcome bottlenecks North American minerals development

Industry Recommendations Pertinent to Batteries and Minerals:

Expanded ROO to include minimum thresholds for critical minerals sourced and processed in North America

Tariff-free trade of critical minerals across North America

Section 232 tariff relief for USMCA-compliant products subject to Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum

Adoption of the Electric Vehicle Charging Standard J3400 Society of Automotive Engineers) across North America

Stronger compliance with auto ROO, regional and labor value content, and steel and aluminum requirements

Expanded TN visa flexibility to facilitate the flow of technical skills in critical minerals processing across North America

Consistent and transparent enforcement of labor and environmental standards

Source: Solar Energy Industries Association

Extracted from the PDF; charts and images may read imperfectly.