[CTC] Climate Groups Detail USMCA Trade Agreement Revisions That Support Jobs, Protect Environment

[Arthur Stamoulis]

*Politico Morning Trade*

*— Environmental and trade organizations have unveiled their requests for
revisions* to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. ...

*PUSH FOR A GREENER USMCA: *A group of environmental and trade
organizations asked USTR last week for several revisions to the environment
chapter of the USMCA, according to a letter out today and first obtained by
Morning Trade.
<https://url8086.email.politicopro.com/ss/c/u001.6g0Zd3AyneOViJYBXgbV6-2A3s9bI3R3y_0nLtsgAWM7mflHImAMk0sziJane0wWpbuKeae9agjdQor2pm89CGdz4sWjzxRD2e7ZyI9177wCSa4FqB7YLWc0ykj8oQhP/4ho/qKq41dGFRoK4E6vterKrog/h13/h001.I0YXAkErUc3XlpHHN-VBsFbBeGhKPKCCf8wRlLScN6Q>

*Context: *The mandatory six-year review of the deal formally kicks off in
2026, and the Trump administration is expected to consider sweeping changes
to the agreement.

*Among the requests: *Establish a working group that harmonizes air
pollution, monitoring and reporting for large facilities; create a new
article where countries commit to climate-conscious pledges like reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector; and revise language in
the chapter to make provisions binding, among others.

“The USMCA made some meaningful improvements from the original North
American Free Trade Agreement,” reads the letter, which is signed by the
Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and the League of
Conservation Voters. They add, “Despite these improvements, the USMCA has
continued to advantage producers that abide by low labor and environmental
standards, rather than those that innovate and create good quality jobs.”

*LEGAL CORNER: *Two well-known appellate attorneys are joining the legal
effort to block the Trump administration’s sweeping global tariffs: former
Circuit Court Judge Michael McConnell and Neal Katyal, the former acting
solicitor general in the Obama administration.

*Why it matters: *The additions are a sign that the Liberty Justice Center,
which brought a case challenging the tariffs on behalf of five small
businesses, is gearing up for the appellate stage of its battle with the
Trump administration.

Katyal, a Democrat, has argued 52 cases before the Supreme Court, where the
case will likely end up. McConnell, a Republican appointed to the 10th
Circuit Court of Appeals by former President George W. Bush, has written a
book about the constitutional power granted to the executive branch called
“The President Who Would Not Be King.”

====

https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2025/06/climate-groups-detail-usmca-trade-agreement-revisions-support-jobs-protect
Climate Groups Detail USMCA Trade Agreement Revisions That Support Jobs,
Protect Environment
Sierra Club, Others Send Letter To US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer
As Negotiations Continue
June 26, 2025
Contact

Ginny Roscamp, Senior Press Secretary, Federal Communications, Sierra Club,
ginny.roscamp at sierraclub.org

WASHINGTON, DC — As the Trump Administration’s negotiations on a revised
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ramp up, the Sierra Club,
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and League of Conservation Voters
(LCV) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer
outlining the climate advocacy groups’ demands for a new trade agreement
that supports jobs and protects the environment.

   - Read the letter:
   https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/usmca-letter-ustr.pdf


*“As global demand grows for goods made more sustainably and with
lower-embodied emissions and more resilient supply chains, we must
recognize that American competitiveness hinges on modernizing our
manufacturing sector through cleaner technologies and practices.  Adding
provisions to the USMCA that enhance the U.S.’ industrial and technological
advantages—a goal of President Trump’s America First Trade Policy—by
investing in clean manufacturing within cornerstone industries like steel,
aluminum, and cement will have multiple benefits,” the letter reads.*

The USMCA is a revised version of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) from President Trump’s first term in office. At the time, Trump
called the USMCA “the greatest trade deal ever,” but the U.S. trade deficit
has increased under the USMCA, relative to NAFTA.

The USMCA contains provisions requiring the three governments to review the
pact every six years, when countries can suggest amendments to the
agreement. Chapter-specific reviews of the labor and environment chapter
are taking place right now.

*“The USMCA made some meaningful improvements from the original North
American Free Trade Agreement. … Despite these improvements, the USMCA has
continued to advantage producers that abide by low labor and environmental
standards, rather than those that innovate and create good quality jobs.
USMCA renegotiation offers a critical opportunity to change course,” the
letter reads.*

*The letter calls on Greer to prioritize the following revisions to the
environmental chapter of the USMCA:*

   - Strengthen language throughout the chapter to be “binding”.
   - Establish an enforcement mechanism for point-source violations at
   facilities.
   - Create an oversight group to address unintended consequences of USMCA
   on the climate and environment.
   - Expand the list of multilateral environmental agreements to include
   existing and future agreements in which at least two partners are, or
   become, involved.
   - Require countries to comply with their obligations under current, or
   future, multilateral environmental agreements, even if it is in conflict
   with the USMCA.
   - Establish a working group between the countries that harmonizes air
   pollution monitoring and reporting for large facilities like manufacturers
   of steel, cement, and aluminum.
   - Allow all countries to escalate enforcement claims, and require
   responding countries to remedy violations within 180 days. If they are
   unable, the requesting country can implement tariffs or restrict market
   access until the violation is remedied.
   - Create a new article on modernizing manufacturing, where countries
   would commit to: reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial
   sector, harmonize the tracking and sharing of emissions data, not challenge
   each other’s green jobs and industrial policies, establish an initiative on
   circularity and materials, and consider establishing a partnership on steel
   and aluminum.

Outside of the environment chapter, the letter also recommends several
other revisions to the USMCA to support innovative U.S. industry, healthy
workers, and prosperous manufacturing communities.

*QUOTES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS*

*“Trade deals need to create good family-sustaining jobs and protect people
and the planet. To fix gaps in the existing USMCA, the U.S. must push for
changes to raise environmental standards, support clean manufacturing, and
hold polluters accountable. This isn’t just good climate policy — it’s
smart economic policy that puts American workers and communities
first,” said Iliana Paul, Deputy Director of the Industrial Transformation
campaign at the Sierra Club.*

*“Trade policies must prioritize environmental and community protections
that are essential to lasting economic stability, for all of North America.
The first USMCA didn't quite get there. That’s why this upcoming revision
of the agreement must commit to strengthening existing language and
addressing current challenges like industrial decarbonization and supply
chain transparency across the continent. A clean, green economy is a strong
and stable economy,” said Amanda Maxwell, Managing Director at NRDC
(Natural Resources Defense Council). *

*“Our global trade policy is a critical part of tackling the climate
crisis, lowering costs, and protecting clean energy jobs while ensuring the
U.S. does not fall behind as demand for energy independence and clean
technologies grows. Any trade deals, including a renegotiated USMCA, must
ensure Big Polluters and corporate industries are held accountable while
securing clean energy supply chains, growing good family-sustaining jobs,
advancing equity, and supporting our climate goals,” said Sara Fontes,
Senior Government Affairs Advocate at the League of Conservation Voters.*



*About the Sierra Club*

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots
environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In
addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the
healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy,
safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our
remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education,
lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
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