USMCA (NAFTA 2.0): Tightening the Constraints on the Right to Regulate for Public Health
Ah yes, "NAFTA on Steroids". In an inexplicable happy accident, the USMCA is being held up in a battle of egos between two corporatists. For the moment. It's a sovereignty giveaway as well.
__________________________________________________________________
Globalization and Health Article on NCBI
Abstract
Background
In late 2018 the United States, Canada, and Mexico signed a new trade agreement (most commonly referred to by its US-centric acronym, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA) to replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The new agreement is the first major trade treaty negotiated under the shadow of the Trump Administration’s unilateral imposition of tariffs to pressure other countries to accept provisions more favourable to protectionist US economic interests. Although not yet ratified, the agreement is widely seen as indicative of how the US will engage in future international trade negotiations.
Methods
Drawing from methods used in earlier health impact assessments of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, we undertook a detailed analysis of USMCA chapters that have direct or indirect implications for health. We began with an initial reading of the entire agreement, followed by multiple line-by-line readings of key chapters. Secondary sources and inter-rater (comparative) analyses by the four authors were used to ensure rigour in our assessments.
Results
The USMCA expands intellectual property rights and regulatory constraints that will lead to increased drug costs, particularly in Canada and Mexico. It opens up markets in both Canada and Mexico for US food exports without reducing the subsidies the US provides to its own producers, and introduces a number of new regulatory reforms that weaken public health oversight of food safety. It reduces regulatory policy space through new provisions on ‘technical barriers to trade’ and requirements for greater regulatory coherence and harmonization across the three countries. It puts some limitations on contentious investor-state dispute provisions between the US and Mexico, provisions often used to challenge or chill health and environmental measures, and eliminates them completely in disputes between the US and Canada; but it allows for new ‘legacy claims’ for 3 years after the agreement enters into force. Its labour and environmental chapters contain a few improvements but overall do little to ensure either workers’ rights or environmental protection.
Conclusion
Rather than enhancing public health protection the USMCA places new, extended, and enforceable obligations on public regulators that increase the power (voice) of corporate (investor) interests during the development of new regulations. It is not a health-enhancing template for future trade agreements that governments should emulate.
Comment
"Destroying the New World Order"
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
How the “Age of Information” morphed into the “Age of Uncertainty” Then Into “The Age of Disinformation”
Have you checked the headlines lately of the mainstream media? You’d think America is a hopeless…See More
KILL THE MESSENGER - Hero Journalist Featurette - In Theaters Friday
In this featurette “Gary Webb: Hero Journalist,” Jeremy Renner (Webb), director Michael Cuesta, Sue Webb and others explore the real man, investigative journ...
"Yes. One of their functions is distraction, but they also bring chaos and crime and change…"
A Masterclass Is Being Played Out For Those Who Have The Eyes To See
A question can be asked, why do Jews want a multicultural community in a host society? It is to…See More
City of Joel - Official Trailer
Now Available on Digital - http://bit.ly/2uxDibn50 miles north of New York City, the town of Monroe is a microcosm for a hyper-partisan and divided nation as...
"Less Prone excellent points and I've seen that video too. Very informative! "
"Less Prone thanks for your support! "
"Less Prone, you are exactly right! They have been harvesting fetal tissue in vaccines for quite…"
"Less Prone, thank you very much for your input/ I always appreciate your insights! "
"You may be consuming human tissue unknowingly in vaccines, food or drink. One of the cruellest…"
"Democrats pretend to be icons of democracy, but what kind of rule do they have in mind? When they…"
© 2026 Created by truth.
Powered by
You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!
Join 12160 Social Network