The United States and Mexico will begin the first round of discussions on March 16 as part of the formal review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). The talks mark the opening stage of the agreement’s required six-year review ahead of the July 2026 deadline for the three countries to decide whether to extend the pact or pursue changes.
The initial round will involve U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard directing negotiators to begin identifying priorities for the review. Early discussions are expected to focus on strengthening regional rules of origin, reinforcing North American supply chains, and ensuring the agreement continues to promote production and investment within the region.
Canada is expected to join the process soon. Ahead of the negotiations, Greer met with Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc in Washington on March 6 to discuss preparations for the review and broader U.S.–Canada trade issues. While the March 16 meeting will focus on U.S.–Mexico talks, officials anticipate additional bilateral discussions with Canada in the near term as part of the broader review process.
The negotiations come amid signals from the administration that the agreement will not be automatically renewed. In testimony before Congress, Greer indicated the United States would not support extending the agreement’s 16-year term without changes, suggesting the review process will likely include proposals to revise certain provisions of the pact.
Court Seeks Update on Plan to Refund Tariffs After Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) has ordered the Trump administration to report by 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, March 12 on its plan to refund tariffs that the Supreme Court ruled unlawful last month. The court directed the government to file a brief status update describing the progress U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made in developing a process to return duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The Supreme Court’s February ruling held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs, requiring the government to refund collected duties with interest. Interest on those refunds is currently accruing at roughly $650 million per month, and could reach around $10 billion if the refunds are not completed by the end of the year.
In recent proceedings, the CIT signaled that refunds do not need to begin immediately, granting CBP additional time after the agency said it could not quickly process the large volume of repayments. CBP told the court it faces an unprecedented task involving more than 330,000 importers and over 53 million entries, representing roughly $166 billion in duties collected under the now-invalid tariffs.
Customs officials said the agency will need about 45 days to establish a workable refund process. CBP is updating its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system so refunds can be issued on an importer-wide basis, rather than through tens of millions of entry-specific payments. The agency said the new functionality is intended to streamline payments and could allow refunds to begin once the system changes are completed.
The court’s upcoming deadline will provide the first formal update on how quickly the refund system can be implemented and when affected importers may begin receiving repayments.
USITC Launches Study on Potential Revocation of China’s PNTR Status
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has begun a fact-finding investigation into the potential economic effects of revoking China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. Directed by Congress in FY 2026 appropriations legislation, the study will evaluate how withdrawing PNTR treatment for Chinese imports could affect U.S. industries, employment, supply chains, and consumer prices. The Commission is scheduled to deliver its report by August 21, 2026.
China has held PNTR status since 2000, ensuring that Chinese goods receive the same most-favored-nation tariff rates applied to imports from other World Trade Organization members. If PNTR were revoked, Chinese products would instead be subject to higher “Column 2” tariff rates under the U.S. tariff schedule. The USITC will analyze how such tariff increases could reshape trade flows, domestic production, and sourcing decisions.
The investigation will assess multiple scenarios, including full revocation of PNTR for all Chinese imports and phased approaches that gradually raise tariffs on certain products over several years, particularly those linked to national security concerns. The Commission is accepting written public comments through April 13, 2026, but will not hold a public hearing due to timing constraints.
Education Department Proposes Rules for Workforce Pell Grants
The U.S. Department of Education on March 9, 2026, released proposed regulations to implement the Workforce Pell Grant program, a provision enacted under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act that expands Pell Grant eligibility to certain short-term workforce training programs. The proposal was published in the Federal Register and outlines how institutions and programs would qualify to participate.
Under the proposed rule, Pell Grants would be available for short-term training programs lasting roughly 8–15 weeks that lead to a recognized postsecondary credential and are aligned with in-demand occupations. Programs would need to meet specific eligibility requirements, including minimum instructional hours, alignment with workforce needs, and oversight by accrediting agencies and state workforce boards.
The proposal also establishes accountability and transparency requirements for participating programs. Institutions would be required to report program-level data such as costs, completion rates, and employment outcomes. Programs that fail to meet performance standards could lose eligibility for Workforce Pell funding. The Education Department is seeking public comment on the proposal through April 8, 2026, before moving toward a final rule that would govern how Workforce Pell Grants are implemented