The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) released the final implementing regulations of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USMCA”) on June 3, 2020, an important step for when the USMCA goes into effect on July 1, 2020. The implementing regulations cover the interpretation, application, and administration of the rules of origin, textile and apparel goods, and customs administration and trade facilitation.

Depending on the product in question, the USMCA rules of origin may or may not change from those currently applied under NAFTA. As a result, U.S. importers should not assume that NAFTA-eligible products will remain eligible under the USMCA (or vice versa) and should evaluate the new rules of origin carefully for their products.