[CTC] Joint Statement of the Environment Committee of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on the Five-Year Review on the Implementation and Operation of the Environment Chapter

[Arthur Stamoulis]

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/usmca/2025_07_03%20Joint%20Statement_Revised.pdf


Joint Statement of the Environment Committee of the United
States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on the Five-Year Review on the
Implementation and Operation of the Environment Chapter

June 30, 2025

On June 17, 2025, the Environment Committee (“the Committee”) under the
United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement (“the Agreement”) completed the
Five-Year Review (“the Review”) of the implementation and operation of the
Environment Chapter (“Chapter 24”), pursuant to Article 24.26.7.

The Parties to the Agreement welcomed the progress achieved since the
Agreement’s entry into force on July 1, 2020 and reported on their
respective implementation of Chapter 24 commitments. These efforts have
included actions to strengthen environmental protections and enforce
environmental laws. The Parties reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in
addressing environmental issues and highlighted joint initiatives
supporting Chapter 24’s implementation.

Mexico highlighted key areas of implementation related to natural resource
conservation, emphasizing the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in the
sustainable management of biodiversity. Mexico’s efforts have included
advancing community-based forest management practices, enhancing ecosystem
stewardship, expanding the designation of protected areas, strengthening
national legal frameworks for environmental protection and land
conservation, broadening air quality improvement programs, and accelerating
the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.

The United States highlighted relevant law enforcement achievements,
including enhanced interdiction capacities at the southern border;
technological improvements that further enable U.S. government
agencies’ implementation
of the Agreement’s environment commitments; and support for U.S. government
agencies to improve monitoring and enforcement of the Agreement’s environment
commitments.

Canada highlighted key priority areas and progress made in implementing
Chapter 24, including meaningful engagement with the public and Indigenous
partners, advancing responsible business conduct, improving air quality,
protecting the marine environment from ship pollution, reducing marine
litter, conserving marine species, and strengthening biodiversity
conservation.

The Committee also reviewed the operation of Chapter 24, including linkages
to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s activities and the
Submissions on Enforcement Matters process. The Committee emphasized the
value of public participation for promoting implementation of the Agreement
through a discussion of best practices for its public sessions.

The next biannual Committee meeting, which will include a public session,
will take place this fall in Ottawa.
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