El Presidente de México, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, recibió el día martes 8 de junio a la Vicepresidenta de los Estados Unidos de América Kamala Harris para discutir temas migratorios, de crecimiento económico, inversión y bienestar.
Asimismo, durante la visita, el Presidente de México y la Vicepresidenta de los Estados Unidos fueron testigos de honor en la firma del memorándum de entendimiento para la cooperación internacional para atender las causas estructurales de la migración. La firma se llevó a cabo entre la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) de México y la Agencia de Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional (USAID por sus siglas en inglés).
Finalmente, durante la visita de Kamala Harris se llevó a cabo una reunión bilateral con el propósito de incrementar el crecimiento económico, la inversión y el bienestar.
Se llegaron a los siguiente compromisos:
Fuente: El financiero, Contralínea, Secretaría de Economía, The White House Briefing Room
El 11 de junio de 2021 se publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación el Acuerdo de Inversión México – Hong Kong que entró en vigor el día 16 de junio de 2021.
Como se detalla en nuestra Alerta Legal del 11 de junio, el acuerdo servirá como marco regulador para ofrecer a los inversionistas de ambas regiones un trato justo, equitativo y no discriminatorio en sus inversiones.
De esta forma se aumentará la confianza de los inversionistas, se ampliarán los flujos de inversión entre México y Hong Kong.
El Mecanismo Laboral de Respuesta Rápida en instalaciones específicas (MLRR) es un procedimiento de resolución de controversias que tiene por objeto reforzar el cumplimiento de los compromisos laborales asumidos en el T-MEC.
Cómo explicamos a detalle en nuestro Trading Room del 14 de mayo, el pasado 10 de mayo la AFL-CIO presentó, junto con otras organizaciones, una petición de Respuesta Rápida contra Tridonex, un fabricante de autopartes ubicado en Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
Al respecto, el Comité Laboral Interagencial de Monitoreo y Aplicación (el “Comité”) determinó que existe información creíble y suficiente de una denegación de derechos laborales en dicha instalación.
Por ello, la Representante Comercial de los Estados Unidos, Katherine Tai, y el Secretario de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos, Marty Walsh, solicitaron formalmente a México el día 9 de junio de 2021 que revise si a los trabajadores de la planta de piezas automotrices de Tridonex en Matamoros, Tamaulipas, se les están negando los derechos de libre asociación y negociación colectiva.
Al respecto, México emitió un comunicado de prensa señalando que iba revisar la solicitud.
México tiene 10 días para aceptar o negar la solicitud de la USTR de revisar la supuesta denegación de derechos de acuerdo con el MLRR y, en caso de aceptarla, México tendrá que presentar un reporte dentro de 45 días de la solicitud..
Para consultar más información relevante acerca del Mecanismo Laboral de Respuesta Rápida ponemos a su disposición las siguientes presentaciones.
Fuente: Secretaría de Economía, Office of the USTR
Estados Unidos, Hong Kong, inversión extranjera, Mecanismo de Respuesta Rápida, Mecanismo de respuesta rápida TMEC, Mexico, Mexico- Estados Unidos, Mexico- Hong Kong, MLRR, Relación bilateral, Secretaria de economía, TMEC, USTR
This week, two events related to the USMCA’s Facility-Specific Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) were raised against the following companies in the auto industry:
Per reports, on Monday the AFL-CIO filed, in conjunction with the Sindicato Internacional de Empleados de Servicios (SEIU), SNITIS, and Public Citizen, a Rapid Response petition against Tridonex, an auto-part manufacturer located in Matamoros, Tamaulipas (near Brownsville, Texas).
According to the news reports, the petition claims that workers have been denied their right of freedom of association to create a new union because of the State government’s inactions. Also, the media reported that about 600 employees that sought to have a new union were fired last year.
Though the Mexican Labor Law reform on unions and collective bargaining matters is in force, its implementation is phased. Accordingly, the State of Tamaulipas will start to implement the reform by 2022.
The Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (the “Committee”) will review the petition, per the interim guidelines, and has to decide within 30 (calendar) days whether or not there is sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of labor rights at said facility. If affirmative, the Committee will inform the USTR to trigger RRMs, requesting Mexico to review such denial of rights.
Per Article 31-A.4 USMCA, Mexico must be informed about this petition and/or review process. As a result, the Ministry of Economy, in conjunction with the Ministry of Labor, will proceed to investigate for internal purposes.
We highlight that the USTR has not yet requested Mexico to review the alleged denial of rights.
On Thursday, the USTR announced that it had requested Mexico to review of Alleged Worker’s Rights Denial at General Motor’s Facility in Silao.
For the first time, the United States is using USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism to review if workers at a General Motors facility in Silao, Mexico, are being denied the right of free association and collective bargaining. Read here: https://t.co/Y07uoC9Hix
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) May 12, 2021
The request claims that the workers at this facility are being denied the right of free association and collective bargaining. In particular, the US has concerns about the process regarding the vote on the collective bargaining agreement between GM and the Union; this process is known as (“legitimación” or “legitimization”).
The US is aware that the Mexican Ministry of Labor suspended the vote as a result of concerns about irregularities, including the destruction of ballots.
Given the above, the US requests Mexico to review “all actions and statements, by or on behalf of the Union or the Company, with respect to the legitimization process […]” including any action or statement against any worker’s right to a personal, free, and secret vote on the legitimization of the collective bargaining agreement.
According to the Press Release, the USTR has requested the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend the final settlement of customs accounts related to entries of goods from GM’s Silao facility. If there is an agreement that there has been a denial of benefits, it is possible that goods from GM’s Silao facility will not enjoy preferential tariffs per USMCA.
According to the media, the Mexican Ministry of Labor on Wednesday ordered to reinstate the legitimization process on Wednesday 12th of May (just one day before the USTR’s request!).
Also, we share the following reports:
GM stated that it did not have any involvement in any alleged labor violations and that it will cooperate with the US and Mexican authorities.
Mexico has 10 days to accept the USTR’s request to review the alleged denial of rights per the RRM. The government of Mexico issued a press release stating that it will start reviewing (internally) the case, but we expect Mexico to formally engage in the RRM process and, thus, Mexico will eventually have to share its findings within 45 (calendar) days since USTR’s request.
For more information about the process, see our Rapid Response Mechanism flow chart and our presentations:
Interestingly, Katherine Tai, head of the USTR, congratulated yesterday Mexico for “stepping in when it became aware of voting irregularities earlier this year”. If Mexico’s course of action is implemented successfully, it is possible that the USTR agrees with the remedial actions and, thus, GM’s Silao goods continue to enjoy preferential tariffs.
Proud to be using the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism for the first time to review workers’ free association and bargaining rights in a factory in Silao, Mexico. I commend the Mexican government for stepping in to suspend the vote when it became aware of voting irregularities.
— Ambassador Katherine Tai (@AmbassadorTai) May 12, 2021
In VTZ, we believe that these are the first of many labor cases. Katherine Tai is a strong “enforcement” advocate and promoter of the rapid response mechanism. Therefore, it is imperative for Mexican companies covered by the rapid response mechanism, such as in the manufacturing industry, not to interfere with their workers’ rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining, but also to cooperate with the labor authorities as appropriate. Failure to do so, the USTR may initiate the rapid response mechanism, jeopardizing preferential tariff treatment per USMCA.
Labor and Trade, Labor Chapter, Labor Reform, Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, USTR
Este boletín de noticias económicas es preparado por Vázquez Tercero & Zepeda (VTZ), un despacho de abogados especializado en temas de comercio exterior, aduanas e IMMEX.
El miércoles 24 de febrero, Joe Biden, Presidente de los EE.UU. firmó una orden ejecutiva que busca “abordar las debilidades en [las] cadenas de suministro en otros sectores críticos.” En el discurso, la expresión “construir resiliencia” fue mencionada con frecuencia, y a lo que se refiere es a “aumentar [la] producción de ciertos tipos de componentes aquí en [EE. UU.]”.
En otras palabras, el Presidente de EE.UU. señaló que la orden ejecutiva hace dos cosas:
Además de los posibles cambios legales o regulatorios que podrían afectar las cadenas de suministro, también se podrán recomendar “incentivos federales y cualquier reforma a las leyes federales sobre compras públicas que puedan ser necesarias para atraer y retener inversiones en bienes y materiales críticos y otros bienes y materiales esenciales […]” También, acciones diplomáticas para buscar el apoyo de aliados para fortalecer las cadenas de suministro conjuntamente.
En twitter, el Director del Roosevelt Institute, Todd N. Tucker, explicó esta orden ejecutiva en un hilo:
¿Dado el aumento de tensiones en materia energética, invitará EE.UU. a México en apoyar esta política estratégica en materia de cadenas de suministro?
Como nota final, los medios de comunicación internacionales han informado que Canadá está considerando un “arancel” al carbono (y posiblemente EE.UU.), que tomaría la forma de un “ajuste fiscal en frontera” según el GATT (por siglas en inglés).
Entendemos que Canadá tiene un impuesto nacional sobre el “carbono”, que puede poner en desventaja competitiva a algunas industrias canadienses frente a los productos importados. Aunque todavía es un proyecto, el gobierno canadiense está estudiando la posibilidad de un “Arancel al Carbono” a importaciones originarias de países que no tienen “políticas verdes” sólidas.
Mientras tanto, en EE. UU., se ha informado que se está redactando en el Congreso un proyecto de ley sobre impuestos al carbono y también un “arancel” al carbono (en forma de un ajuste fiscal en frontera) también se está considerando. La Unión Europea también está discutiendo medidas similares como parte de su “acuerdo verde” (green deal) desde el año pasado.
Una cosa está clara, al menos para nosotros, Canadá y EE.UU. buscarán conjuntamente la implementación de políticas “verdes”, como se percibió en la reciente reunión de Biden con Trudeau. A su vez, las importaciones originarias de países contaminantes pueden verse afectadas en el mediano o largo plazo con un “arancel” al carbono en Canadá, EE.UU. y países de la Unión Europea, y las industrias mexicanas exportadoras deberán prestar mucha atención a cómo se desarrolla este asunto.
Más información: Macleans, Politico, BBC, SPGlobal, Bloomberg.
Ayer jueves 25 de febrero, Katherine Tai compareció ante el Comité de Finanzas del Senado para su confirmación como Representante Comercial de EE.UU. (USTR). Las declaraciones iniciales de Katherine Tai fueron publicadas el miércoles (disponibles aquí).
Destacamos los siguientes tres comentarios:
“Debemos seguir políticas comerciales que promuevan los intereses de todos los estadounidenses, —políticas que reconozcan que la gente es trabajadora y asalariada, no sólo es consumidora… Por eso haré que sea una prioridad aplicar y hacer cumplir los términos renovados de nuestra relación comercial con Canadá y México”.
“También daré prioridad a la reconstrucción de nuestras alianzas y asociaciones internacionales y a volvernos a comprometer con las instituciones internacionales”.
“China es un rival y socio comercial al mismo tiempo, y un actor enorme cuya cooperación también necesitaremos para abordar ciertos desafíos globales”.
Sobre las relaciones comerciales México-Estados Unidos, es claro que Katherine Tai, como futura Representante Comercial de EE.UU., buscará utilizar las herramientas legales disponibles previstas en el T-MEC. Esto lo reiteró durante su comparecencia (ver video).
En VTZ, consideramos que la futura USTR será más receptiva a las quejas laborales que puedan desencadenar el mecanismo de respuesta rápida en instalaciones específicas. De sus declaraciones, también es claro que EE.UU. tendrá una cooperación más estrecha con la OMC y que continuará teniendo una política fuerte contra China, y buscando el apoyo de aliados.
Recibe The Trading Room con las noticias económicas más relevantes de los últimos 15 días en donde Emilio Arteaga, Socio Jr., y Mariana Rivera, asociada, agregan un par de comentarios sobre los eventos.
Ingresa tus datos en el siguiente formulario:
Arancel al carbono, Katherine Tai, Orden Ejecutiva de EE.UU. sobre Cadenas de Suministro, USTR
The Trading Room is a Mexican Economic Newsletter prepared by Vázquez Tercero & Zepeda (VTZ) that specializes in international trade, customs, and tax law.
Yesterday, Ms. Katherine Tai appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for her confirmation as the US Trade Representative. On Wednesday, Ms. Tai’s opening statements were released (available here), and we highlight the following three remarks:
As for Mexico-US trade relations, it is clear that Ms. Tai, as a future USTR, will seek to use the available legal tools provided in the USMCA. This was repeated in her hearing (Youtube video). In VTZ, we consider that USTR will be more receptive to labor complaints that may trigger a facility-specific rapid response mechanism. From her opening statements, it also appears that the US will have closer cooperation with WTO and that the US will continue to have a strong policy against China, and with the support of allies.
For more information on Labor and Trade:
Yesterday, US President, Joe Biden, signed an executive order that seeks “to address the vulnerabilities in our supply chains across additional critical sectors.” In the speech, the expression “building resilience” was mentioned frequently, and what is meant is “increasing our production of certain types of elements here at [US].” In the words of the US President, the order does two things.
What recommendations may arise as a result of the review? Besides possible statutory or regulatory changes that may impact supply chains, and that “federal incentives and any amendments to Federal procurement regulations that may be necessary to attract and retain investments in critical goods and materials and other essential goods and materials[…]”
The Director of the Roosevelt Institute, Todd N. Tucker, made an interesting thread in Twitter:
In addition, diplomatic actions to seek the support of allies to strengthen supply chains jointly. With the tensions rising on US energy investments in Mexico, we wonder whether Mexico will be invited to support this policy?
As a final note, international news outlets have reported that Canada is considering a Carbon “Tariff” (and possibly the US), which would take the form of a “border tax adjustment” per the GATT. We understand that Canada has a domestic “carbon” tax, which can put in a competitive disadvantage some Canadian industries against imported products. Although it is still a project, the Canadian government is studying the possibility of a “Carbon Tariff” (in the form of a border tax adjustment) on the imports from countries that do not have strong “green policies.”
Meanwhile in the USA, it has been reported that a carbon tax bill is being drafted in Congress and that a carbon “tariff” (in the form of a border tax adjustment) may also be considered. The European Union is also discussing similar measures as part of its green deal since last year.
One thing is clear, at least for us, Canada and the US will push for “green” policies together, as perceived in the recent Biden-Trudeau meeting. In turn, imports from polluting countries in Canada, the USA, and the EU may be affected in the mid or long term with a carbon “tariff”, and Mexican industries shall pay close attention to how this matter develops.
More information: Macleans, Politico, BBC, SPGlobal, and Bloomberg.
More…Carbon tariff, green policies, Katherine Tai, US Executive Order on Supply Chains, USTR
Download our newsletter, The Trading Room, in the following link Trading Room -17042020
This week it was reported in news outlets that industries in the region are seeking to postpone the entry into force of the USMCA automotive rules of origin; that is, to establish a transition period for said rules after USMCA’s entry into force.
USMCA’s entry into force remains a pending issue. So far, the US has not notified the completion of its internal procedures to trigger the 3 months term for its entry into force. However, it is said that it will take effect in mid-July or no later than September 1, which implies notification within the following weeks or months.
The region’s auto industry is concerned that rules of origin (RoO) will apply immediately with USMCA’s entry into force; regional content requirements will increase progressively. For this reason, 10 legislators in the US delivered a letter to the US Trade Representative (USTR) requesting “flexibility” and an adjustment period because COVID affected production in the region, complicating compliance with RoOs. In this regard, President Trump acknowledged last weekend that the agreement is different from the point of view that production will be lower.
In the case of Mexico, the president of the National Association of Buses, Trucks, and Tractor-trucks Producers (ANPACT), commented that “the complexity of complying with the origin regulations lies in the fact that for each component of a vehicle, calculations of regional content, the labor component, steel, and aluminum. In the case of an engine, they have approximately 700 suppliers, so meeting these requirements can take months.”
Furthermore, USMCA’s Uniform Rules are still being negotiated.
On Monday the Federal Law for the Promotion and Protection of Native Corn was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation.
In essence, this law provides the following:
i) The production, marketing, consumption and constant diversification of native corn is recognized as a national cultural manifestation, and
ii) access to Native Corn is guaranteed without genetically modified organisms.
Since 2019, this law is somewhat controversial because it seeks to protect Mexican Native Corn from Mexico’s USMCA commitments to adhere to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 1991), Mexico is a party to said Convention but according to the 1978 Act. These conventions authorize the registration of patents on plant genes and varieties. However, UPOV 1991 extends rights to holders of such patents as compared to UPOV 1978.
Regardless of the above, we highlight that this law does not introduce restrictions on the importation of any type of corn into national territory.
For the third year, VTZ contributed Thomson Reuters Practical Law in the Guide to International Trade in Goods and Services in Mexico. Our Managing Partner, Adrian Vázquez, Junior Partner, Emilio Arteaga, and Associate, Mariana Malváez, answered a guide on key issues of international trade regulation in Mexico. Check the Guide here.
A few days after the protocol amending USMCA was signed, a new controversy arose between Mexico and the USA at the weekend due to USMCA’s implementing act in the USA.
In essence, Mexican negotiator, Jesus Seade, wrote a letter stating that Mexico considered that the legislation went “beyond” the protocol since the USA was considering to include “labor inspectors” in Mexico.
In response, USTR mentioned that the USMCA’s authorized “domestic measures” such as having “Attachés”. In fact, US attachés currently operate in Mexico in different sectors or matters, such as agricultural, commerce, among others.
The existence of a maximum of 5 labor Attachés is planned, according to the USTR response and US legislation. The Attachés “will work with their Mexican counterparts, workers, and civil society groups on implementation of the Mexican labor reform, including by providing technical assistance and disbursing capacity building funds, and provide assistance to the new U.S. government interagency labor committee.”
Undersecretary Seade thanked the “clarity” of USTR’s response, considered that the Attachées will be 90% harmless and pointed out that the Attachées would abide by Mexican law.
The Modification Protocol to USMCA provides for Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, which will operate independently.
Our labor expert, Rafael Alday, prepared an alert (only available in Spanish), addressing this mechanism briefly.
Under this context, it is clear that Mexico will have comprehensive monitoring of compliance with labor laws, particularly on unions and collective bargaining rights. In the same vein, Ricardo Ramírez, a former member of the WTO Appellate Body, said that never before a system so intrusive and with strict surveillance of labor legislation in another country had been established.
On Tuesday, the USMCA implementation act was approved by the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, meanwhile, the House approved the act yesterday. Now, the Senate needs to vote on the act, but this will occur after the impeachment process that US President Donald Trump is facing according to media outlets.
The Mexican Minister of Economy mentioned in Twitter that the US Senate will vote on January 2020.
Sources:
https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/opinion/ricardo-ramirez-hernandez/t-mec-me-acabo-de-enterar
https://elfinanciero.com.mx/economia/camara-de-representantes-de-eu-ratifica-el-t-mec
This Monday, VTZ and Adrián Vázquez participated in the Mexico-China Economic and Commercial Cooperation Forum organized by the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (acronym COMCE) and the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Detailed information about the plenary is available here.
Sources:
Download in PDF:The Trading Room
CCCPIT, COMCE, Implementation Act, labor, labor attachés, Mexican labor Law, Mexico-China, NAFTA, Rapid Response Mechanism, Seade, USMCA, USTR
Después de más de un año de intensas negociaciones, la noche de ayer, 30 de septiembre, los EEUU y Canadá llegaron a un acuerdo para la renovación del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN). El nombre del nuevo acuerdo comercial será United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
El texto del acuerdo se encuentra disponible en la página del United States Trade Representative (USTR) para conocerlo da clic aquí .
Como resultado del acuerdo alcanzado entre los EEUU y Canadá, el Subsecretario de Comercio Exterior de la Secretaría de Economía, Juan Carlos Baker entregó la noche de ayer el texto del nuevo acuerdo al Senado para comenzar con el proceso de revisión ante las comisiones involucradas. El proceso de revisión ante el Congreso de los Estados Unidos concluirá aproximadamente en 60 días, requisito indispensable para que el presidente Trump pueda firmar un TLC, y será firmado por los respectivos jefes de Estado durante los últimos días del mes de noviembre.
En los próximos días VTZ publicará un documento de trabajo analizando el USMCA.
Acuerdo Comercial, Canada, Estados Unidos, Mexico, NAFTA, TLCAN, TMEC texto, USMCA, USMCA documento, USMCA texto, USTR
This week on The Trading Room:
An “Agreement in Principle” between US and Mexico was reached this Monday, and President Trump suggested to change the name “NAFTA” to “US-Mexico Trade Agreement” (USMTA). This statement triggered the following doubt: Can the US enter into a bilateral agreement with Mexico? Jennifer Hillman…See more.
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Esta semana en “Trading Room”:
Un “Acuerdo en Principio” entre EEUU y México se logró este lunes, y el Presidente Trump sugirió cambiar el nombre TLCAN por “Acuerdo de Comercio EEUU-México” (ACEUM). Esta declaración creó la siguiente duda: ¿puede los EEUU celebrar un acuerdo bilateral con México? Jennifer Hillman …Ver más.
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Automotriz, Automóviles, Canada, labor, NAFTA, Reglas de Origen, Rules of Origin, Sunset, TLCAN, Trump, USTR
El pasado viernes 4 de agosto, nuestro socio Adrián Vázquez, participó en la mesa de análisis del Capítulo XIX del Tratado Libre de Comercio de América del Norte, organizado por la Barra Mexicana de Abogados. Este tema se ha vuelto relevante en virtud de que los Estados Unidos desea eliminar el referido capítulo, el cual establece un mecanismo de solución de controversias que permite revisar medidas antidumping y subisidios impuestos por Estados Unidos, Canada o Mexico ante un Panel Bi-Nacional.
En dicha mesa, se discutió el contexto histórico del capítulo XIX, sus problemas y propuestas para mejorarlo. En esta mesa de análisis, participaron los siguientes expertos:
Fila superior (izquierda a derecha): Gustavo Uruchurtu (abogado), José Manuel Vargas (abogado),Hugo Romero (Secretaría de Economía), Oscar Cruz Barney (panelista), Eduardo Días Gavito (abogado), David Hurtado (abogado)
Fila inferior (izquierda a derecha): Rodolfo Cruz Miramontes (abogado), Jaime Galicia (abogado) Ricardo Ramírez (ex-miembro del Órgano de Apelación de la OMC) y Adrián Vázquez.
Al respecto, Adrián Vázquez escribió recientemente sobre el capítulo XIX TLCAN, “Ante la Eliminación del Mecanismo del Capítulo XIX TLCAN: ¿Quién podrá defendernos?“, y fue entrevistado por el periódico El Universal en “Amenazan al TLCAN antes de su Negociación”
antidumping, Capítulo 19, Capítulo 19 TLCAN, Capítulo XIX TLCAN, Comercio Internacional, Estados Unidos, Panel, TLCAN, Trump, USTR
Our managing partner, Adrián B. Vázquez, comments on Chapter 19 NAFTA and the implications of its possible elimination in light of NAFTA’s renegotiation.
To consult his opinion, follow the next link: Elimination of Chapter 19 NAFTA – AVB
Adrian B Vazquez, antidumping, Chapter 19, Chapter XIX, International Trade, NAFTA, NAFTA renegotiation, trade, Trump, USA, USTR
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