Jamieson Greer, trade representative for the White House, suggested that current rules of origin have not led to the expected relocation of production to the United States.
According to him, these rules have also not sufficiently reduced dependence on extra-regional inputs (mainly from China).
Relocation of production
From the US government’s perspective, rules of origin should be tightened to prevent China from using Mexico as an export platform.
Considering the above, Mexican consulting firm Ansley anticipates increases in the regional content required in the automotive, semiconductor, and technology industries.
Jamieson Greer’s positions were presented on December 16 and 17, 2025, during his appearance before the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, in the context of the USMCA.
The purpose of the appearance was to present a preliminary report on the operation of the Agreement between Mexico, the United States, and Canada, including issues related to semiconductors and technology, in anticipation of the first joint review scheduled for July 1, 2026.
According to the USMCA Implementation Act, the Trade Representative must submit the formal report no later than 180 days before that review, i.e., in early January 2026, as part of the established institutional process.
The report should have included an assessment of the functioning of the USMCA, specific recommendations for action for the review, the United States’ position on the extension of the agreement, previous efforts to find a solution, and the opinions of the advisory committees provided for in the Trade Act of 1974.
Regional content
Jamieson Greer has stated that there are areas where a trilateral discussion between Mexico, the United States, and Canada is relevant, and has pointed out that rules of origin are one of them, considering them a key component in the functioning of the USMCA.
Rules of origin define when a good is considered to be of origin, based on its regional content, in order to qualify for tariff preferences. In this context, Marcelo Ebrard indicated that the panel won by Mexico on automotive rules has not been fully complied with by the United States.