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 stageThe European Union and United States are advancing discussions on the proposed “Turnberry” trade agreement, with a key European Parliament vote scheduled for March 26, 2026. The vote would establish the Parliament’s position on legislation to implement tariff provisions from the July 2025 framework, including reductions on a range of industrial and agricultural goods, along with safeguard measures that could suspend benefits if new trade restrictions are introduced.
Recent U.S.–EU meetings have highlighted continued differences over the structure of the agreement. EU officials have indicated they will not support the deal if safeguard provisions are weakened. The EU is also proposing a “sunrise clause” that would condition tariff reductions on U.S. compliance with the agreement’s terms, effectively linking implementation to enforcement.
Outstanding tariff issues remain central to the negotiations. The EU is seeking confirmation that the proposed 15 percent tariff cap applies across sectors, including steel and aluminum, and is pressing for changes to certain derivative tariffs affecting EU exports. These concerns have contributed to revisions in the legislative text now under consideration.
Following the March 26 vote, EU member states will begin negotiations to finalize the agreement. The outcome will depend on whether both sides can resolve remaining differences on tariff coverage, enforcement mechanisms, and overall balance in the deal.
USTR Initiates Broad Section 301 Reviews of 16 Trading Partners
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated a set of Section 301 investigations to examine whether trade-related policies in 16 economies are contributing to excess manufacturing capacity that may affect U.S. commerce. The investigations, announced March 11, 2026, and published in the Federal Register on March 17, include a range of U.S. trading partners including China, the European Union, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, and India.
USTR indicated the reviews will assess whether government measures—such as subsidies, state-supported financing, or other policy frameworks—are influencing production levels in ways that may distort global markets. The scope of the investigations spans several manufacturing sectors, including metals, automotive, semiconductors, machinery, and energy-related products.
The agency has opened a public comment period, with submissions and requests to participate in hearings due by April 15, 2026. Public hearings are scheduled to begin May 5, after which USTR will evaluate the record and determine next steps.
USTR has also launched a separate set of Section 301 investigations focused on the forced labor practices of 60 of the largest trading partners of the U.S. Initiated on March 12 and published in the Federal Register on March 17, these investigations will examine whether certain countries’ labor practices, including the use of forced or coerced labor and inadequate enforcement of labor standards, constitute unreasonable or discriminatory acts that burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Economies subject to the investigations include China, the EU, Canada, Mexico, India, Thailand, Japan, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, USTR has authority to take action if it finds that the practices under review are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden U.S. commerce.
Commerce Launches Second 2026 Window for Auto Parts Tariff Additions
The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the next submission window for adding products to the Section 232 automobile parts tariffs. A Federal Register notice published on March 24, 2026, by the International Trade Administration in coordination with the Bureau of Industry and Security, establishes an inclusions window running from April 1 through April 14, 2026. During this two-week period, domestic manufacturers and other interested parties may submit requests to add specific automobile parts to the scope of existing Section 232 duties.
The process was established following a March 2025 presidential proclamation and subsequent implementing rule, which created quarterly opportunities—in January, April, July, and October—to expand the list of covered parts.
Requests must be submitted electronically and should confirm that the products are not already covered. After the window closes, accepted requests will be posted publicly for a two-week comment period before Commerce makes determinations.
The April filing period is the second quarterly opportunity in 2026 for stakeholders to request additions to the Section 232 auto parts tariff list.
Labor Department Sends Joint Employer Proposal to OIRA for Review
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted a proposed rule addressing “Joint Employer Status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)” to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. The submission, made by the Wage and Hour Division on March 16, marks the beginning of interagency review and signals that formal rulemaking may soon follow.
While details of the proposal have not yet been released publicly, the rule is expected to guide how DOL determines when multiple entities may be held jointly liable for wage-and-hour obligations under the FLSA.
The action follows a recent rulemaking by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which finalized a rule withdrawing a 2023 joint employer standard and reinstating the agency’s 2020 definition under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The 2026 rule returns to a framework that focuses on whether an entity exercises direct and immediate control over essential terms and conditions of employment, rather than considering indirect or unexercised control.
The DOL’s proposal, once published, will be subject to public notice and comment before any final rule is adopted. 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.