USMCA stands for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is a free trade agreement between the three North American countries of Mexico, the United States and Canada that came into effect on July 1, 2020. It replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had been in place since 1994.
USMCA includes provisions related to trade in goods and services, intellectual property, digital trade, labor, and the environment. It also includes updated rules for the auto industry and increased labor protections for workers in Mexico.
The agreement is intended to modernize and improve upon NAFTA, addressing some of the criticisms and concerns that had arisen over the years since its implementation. Some of the key changes in USMCA include new rules related to labor and environmental standards, increased requirements for North American content in automobiles, and provisions related to digital trade.
Overall, USMCA is meant to promote trade and economic growth between the three countries while also ensuring that the benefits of free trade are shared more equitably among workers and industries.
How can John S. James Co. help you?
As a customs broker and freight forwarder, we can assist clients with USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) services in several ways. Here are some of the ways we can help:
- Classification of goods: We can assist clients in determining the correct classification of goods according to USMCA rules. This is important because the agreement provides for preferential treatment to certain goods that meet the rules of origin criteria. Proper classification of goods can help our clients save on duties and taxes.
- Origin certification: USMCA requires that goods claiming preferential treatment must be accompanied by a certification of origin. As a customs broker, we can help our clients in obtaining and completing the required documentation for certification of origin.
- Customs clearance: We can help our clients in navigating the complex customs clearance procedures for importing and exporting goods under the USMCA agreement. This includes preparing and submitting the required documents and ensuring compliance with USMCA rules.
- Logistics services: As a freight forwarder, we can provide logistics services to our clients, including arranging for transportation, storage, and delivery of goods across North America.
- Compliance support: USMCA has complex rules and regulations that must be followed for businesses to take advantage of the agreement’s benefits. As a customs broker and freight forwarder, we can provide compliance support to our clients by helping them understand the rules, ensuring that their processes and procedures comply with USMCA requirements, and keeping them informed of any changes to the agreement.
In summary, as a customs broker and freight forwarder, we can provide a range of USMCA-related services to help our clients navigate the complexities of importing and exporting goods between the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Contact us today by direct email: info@johnsjames.com or go to the below form!
Useful links
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection USMCA page recommended by Kit Johnson, Director of Trade Compliance at John S. James Co.
- Office of the United States Trade Representative has a USMCA webpage
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a FAQ webpage in relation to the U.S. – Canada – Mexico Agreement.
- International Trade Administration have provided a webpage detailing some major differences between USMCA and NAFTA in key chapters.
- CBP has issued instructions to the Trade for use as the program is implemented.
- John S James Co. has provided a helpful checklist to assist you in understanding USMCA guidelines. Download Here
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced the development of the USMCA Center which is designed to help members of the Trade transition.
