United States, Mexico, and Canada hold 2nd meeting of ‘Labor Council’ under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

The United States, Mexico, and Canada today held the second meeting of the Labor Council under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Mexico City, Mexico. Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representatives for Labor Affairs Katy Mastman and Brenna Dougan led the delegation on behalf of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Mei Lee led for the U.S. Department of Labor.

During the meeting, the Council discussed several topics, including key labor policies on violence and discrimination in the workplace; cooperation and technical assistance projects; and implementation of the USMCA’s provision related to imports produced with forced labor. The Council also exchanged views on the USMCA’s Labor Chapter implementation and conferred on further opportunities to collaborate on labor priorities as a North America Region.

The Labor Council held a virtual public session, which benefitted from wide participation from workers, employers, civil society organizations, and the general public. The public session reflected all three countries’ commitment to maintaining an open dialogue and participatory process regarding USMCA implementation. The session also provided an opportunity for members of the public to offer comments and ask questions about the USMCA Labor Chapter, both in person and online.