en.Wedoany.com Reported - Multiple organizations representing the textile, apparel, footwear, and retail industries have jointly called for preserving the trilateral framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Greer, Secretary Ebrard, and Minister LeBlanc.
The USMCA, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on July 1, 2020, governs nearly $1.6 trillion in annual trade among the three countries. This follows threats by U.S. President Donald Trump not to renew the agreement, citing trade imbalances between the United States and its two neighbors.
The letter is co-signed by organizations including the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores of Mexico (ANTAD), the National Chamber of the Apparel Industry of Mexico (CANAIVE), the Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF), the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD), and the Retail Council of Canada (RCC). The letter states that the USMCA plays a critical role in supporting the textile, apparel, footwear, and retail industries, helping businesses thrive while sustaining millions of jobs in North America.
The letter emphasizes that the three countries have developed deeply integrated supply chains over decades, fostering significant trade, investment, and employment in cotton, textiles, apparel, footwear, and retail. To sustain this growth, duty-free treatment for USMCA-eligible goods must be preserved, along with maintaining strong, enforceable, and practical rules of origin. The USMCA has solidified North American supply chains by establishing clear and predictable rules and providing a long-term framework that supports jobs, investment, and regional trade. Maintaining the core structure of the agreement will help avoid unnecessary trade disruptions and business uncertainty. These industry organizations stated that they stand ready to continue working as a resource and partner throughout the review process.
