USMCA Review Begins With Tripwire Built In

The USMCA joint review opened July 1, 2026, forcing all three signatories to formally decide whether to extend, renegotiate, or exit the $1.3 trillion agreement before its 2036 expiry. The six-year checkpoint was designed as a pressure valve; now it tests whether North American trade architecture survives disputes over autos, dairy, and labor enforcement. Non-renewal would unwind six years of supply-chain restructuring and revert to WTO baseline tariffs.