The table is set to reopen the treaty
Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative, left his meeting with Marcelo Ebrard with a juicy announcement. They agreed to start formal conversations about possible structural reforms to the T-MEC. It’s not just any review; It is the background that touches sensitive nerves.
“Both parties recognized important progress in recent months and agreed to maintain an intense dialogue”
Sounds good, right? Dialogue, progress, cooperation. But you always have to read the fine print. What they really agreed was to sit down and talk about stricter rules of origin for key industrial goods. Translation: They want to change the rules of the game on what is considered ‘made in North America.’
The real menu of negotiation
The official statement says it bluntly. They also seek greater collaboration on critical minerals and alignment of external trade policy. The stated objective: defend workers and producers on both sides of the border.
But here comes the main dish: combating what they call “persistent dumping” of products manufactured in the region. That word, ‘dumping’, is what usually justifies protectionist measures. History repeats itself.
Later, Ebrard will have another hot date with Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce. The agenda: resume work on tariffs. Because when they talk about ‘intense dialogue’, there is usually a list of demands with concrete numbers waiting in the wings.
Progress is recognized, yes. But the ground is also being prepared for changes that could alter entire production chains. The revision of the T-MEC is no longer a distant possibility; It is a conversation that already has a date on the calendar.
