Trump announced in Detroit his intention to invoke the renegotiation provisions of the USMCA. It is important to note that this treaty does not contemplate a renegotiation in the strict sense, but rather a review, and has an “expiry clause” that establishes that, if any of the parties decides to denounce it, 10 years must pass for that action to be effective.
Mexico‘s fear lies in how Trump could interpret the treaty. If he wins the elections in November, he could gain enough support in both houses of Congress to carry out a profound modification of the agreement.
This possible decision is not just Trump’s responsibility; Kamala Harris also has a relevant role in the strategy, as it seeks to limit Chinese re-exports from Mexico to the United States and restrict Chinese investments in Mexico that are ultimately destined for the North American market.
As you can see, although the statement came from Trump, Kamala is on the same page.
However, despite these motivations, it is essential to remember a basic principle of international law: “Pacta sunt servanda.” This means that the obligations established in international treaties cannot be modified at the will of a single party.
