«Our success is due to the USMCA,» stated Jed Bower of the National Corn Producers Association. «Washington opens the major USMCA review from December 3-5,» the headline reads. «With thousands of U.S. family fruit tree farms at risk of closing, losing preferential access to Mexico and Canada would be devastating,» added Riley Bushue of the Northwest Horticultural Council. Corn, wheat, soy, fruit, and vegetable producers insisted that Mexico and Canada are key markets and called for extending the agreement until 2042. «And North America cannot be strong without a predictable, enforceable USMCA aligned with strategic priorities,» the text notes. During the first public hearing for the USMCA review in July 2026, most lawmakers, experts, social organizations, and representatives from the agricultural, textile, and pharmaceutical sectors voiced support for the agreement, though many seek to use the review to tighten labor and environmental rules, strengthen health supervision, and curb the transshipment of Chinese goods entering via Mexico. From the start, memories of the old NAFTA resurfaced. «U.S. corn producers are competitive globally thanks to the trilateral alliance in North America,» the text states. «Since its entry into force, Canada and Mexico have invested $775 billion in the United States, and trade in North America has increased by 50%,» it added. Diego Marroquín, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), warned that the U.S. cannot compete globally without a strong North America. He urged the next version of the agreement to center U.S. workers and manufacturing. The agricultural bloc was the most forceful in defending the treaty. Other organizations demanded more health inspections, bankruptcy protection, and stronger labor clauses to combat exploitation and child labor in Mexico. Big business and economic security experts closed ranks around North American integration. Democratic Congressman Josh Riley recounted how his city lost jobs due to factories relocating to Mexico: «Just like that, they pulled the rug out from under my city.» «The Business Roundtable firmly supports the USMCA,» said Nasim Fussell, vice president of the association representing over 200 CEOs of leading U.S. companies across all sectors.
