President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he has no interest in renewing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), arguing that the trade deal is far more beneficial to America’s neighbors than to the United States itself.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked about the future of the pact and responded that he would prefer to walk away.
“I don’t care. I mean, I don’t really want to. I’d rather be independent. Here’s the thing: Mexico and Canada need us. We don’t need them. The deal is important for them. It’s not important for us,” he said.
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The president’s remarks come after the U.S. government rejected a proposal to extend the USMCA for an additional 16 years on June 1st, instead pushing for annual reviews over at least the next decade.
Meanwhile, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) confirmed that Mexico and the U.S. held their third bilateral round of negotiations last week, with discussions covering steel, aluminum, and related derivative products, among other issues.
During those talks, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sought to steer the conversation toward a compliance-based review framework. She stressed that Trump’s proposed approach would ultimately benefit none of the parties involved.
Sheinbaum also acknowledged that Washington’s primary objective appears to be tightening rules of origin and increasing the U.S. value content requirement for regional goods. However, she cautioned that Mexico would prioritize protecting its own economic interests.
