IAM Union International Affairs Director Peter Greenberg testified before the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), urging the adoption of enforceable labor standards in the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
The union expressed concern that existing provisions in the USMCA have not prevented outsourcing or improved labor protections, which has affected economic security for workers in North America. Greenberg stated that the agreement has failed to improve labor conditions in Mexico and has contributed to job losses in U.S. and Canadian manufacturing and aerospace sectors.
“Unfortunately, our concerns about USMCA have proven to have been accurate: Mexican industrial wages remain lower than those in China, and offshoring of well-paid U.S. jobs continues, including many in the aerospace sector,” said Greenberg. “Since USMCA was enacted, we have seen further erosion of good, middle-class, union jobs in the United States. In order to prevent this from continuing, we need to take vigorous action during the upcoming review.”
The IAM Union called for stronger rules of origin and expanded Labor Value Content requirements to ensure that goods moving duty-free under USMCA are actually produced within North America. The union noted that its members play a significant role in building and maintaining advanced aircraft and engines for both commercial aviation and national defense.
Weaknesses in current USMCA rules have allowed products with substantial non-North American content—especially from China—to enter the U.S. without tariffs, affecting domestic aerospace manufacturing and disrupting supply chains between the U.S. and Canada.
Greenberg referenced findings by the Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board (IMLEB), which highlighted ongoing failures by Mexican authorities to enforce labor rights or penalize violations. He emphasized that better enforcement, increased funding for monitoring through the U.S. Department of Labor, and stricter penalties are necessary so Mexican workers can establish an independent labor system.
“The IAM Union message is simple: If we strengthen labor standards, they must be enforced. And if we enforce them, companies must not be allowed to undermine them by seeking cheaper labor elsewhere,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Working families deserve a trade agreement that works for them and not against them.”
During the same series of hearings by USTR on USMCA, testimony was also provided by IAM’s Maine Lobstering Union regarding persistent inequities that put Maine’s lobstermen at a disadvantage compared to competitors from other countries. These issues include unequal conservation requirements and inconsistent enforcement across borders, which threaten local livelihoods and community stability.
The IAM Union submitted formal comments urging officials to improve labor enforcement mechanisms within USMCA, raise wage standards, and address loopholes that contribute to continued offshoring of key jobs throughout North America.
