b'2American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comUnder review: USMCAs future to be decided in 2026 TOP EXPORTERS & TheUnitedStatesMexicoCanadaAgreementIMPORTERS 2026(USMCA), which replaced NAFTA in 2020, is head-ing for its formal review on July 1, 2026, which will determine whether the agreement, which accord-ing to the US Chamber of Commerce supports 13 million American jobs, will be renewed.By Pete Goldin, AJOTThe United StatesMexico adiversifiedsupplychain CanadaAgreement(USMCA),makesthecaseforUSMCA whichreplacedNAFTAinevenstronger,whenwethink 2020,isatrilateralfreetradeabout the potential for disrup-agreement(FTA)thatoutlinestionstokeephappeningona rulesforduty-freetrade,andmore frequent basis. So having itrequiresthethreecountriesthis agreement with such resil-to hold a joint review after sixience built in is important.years. This formal review starts July 1, 2026. H igH -S tAkeSn egOtiAtiOnWhenaskedabouttheThereviewwillbetaking UnitedStatesMexicoCanadaplaceinanuncertaintrading Agreement(USMCA)inJan- environment, with both Canada uary,PresidentDonaldTrumpandMexicofacingunpredict-said, Theres no real advantage(REVIEWcontinued onA drone view of a loader moving past cut logs outside the sawmill facility at Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd. in West to it. Its irrelevant. page 4) Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, April 7, 2025. ( REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight)Jonathan Gold, VP of Supply ChainandCustomsPolicyatthe NationalRetailFederation(NRF), counters,USMCAisacritical agreement between our closest trading partners. We want to see the agreement kept in place and remain trilateral. Walking awayNo Problemfromtheagreementwouldbe detrimentaltoUSbusinesses whorelyonNorthAmerican supplychainstoremainglob-ally competitive. The Port of Long Beach is moving record amounts of cargo without congestion S ynergyA ndO ppOrtunity or delays and well continue to meet any challenges with flexibility, velocity InastatementfortheUSand exceptional customer service.SenatehearingonUSMCA, the US Chamber of Commerce points out, More than 13 mil-lion Americanjobsdependon trade with Canada and Mexico. USmanufacturersexportmore made-in-America manufactured goodstoourNorthAmerican neighborsthantheydotothe next12largestexportmarkets combined, and the two countries account for one-third of US agri-cultural exports.Thestatementcontinues, USMCA ensures US manufac-turers, farmers, and service pro-viders can continue to access the Canadian and Mexican markets. Itguaranteesthatvirtuallyall U.S. exports enter these markets tariff-freeandhelpsAmerican companies and the workers they employ compete in our top two export markets.TheChamberaddsthatthe USMCA facilitates co-production in agriculture and manufacturing, espe-ciallytheautomotive,aerospace, medical goods, textiles and apparel, and forest products sectors. These partnershipsleveragecomplemen-tarities between the three economies, creating efficiencies that help Ameri-can companies produce high-quality products at a low cost.BlakeHarden,Managing Director,WashingtonCouncil, Ernst&Young(EY)agrees, Havingallthreeeconomies workingtogethercreatesmuch moresynergyandopportunity. It creates a trading block thats more competitive globally.Hardenadds,Inthelast eight years we have seen vari-ous supply chain disruptionsCOVID,geopolitical,climate eventsandconsequently there has been a push for near-shoring. The idea of having the supply closer to homeand'