The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Labor Rights and Environmental Protection
Mexico Center, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy (June 13, 2019)
12 Pages Posted: 15 Jun 2019
David A. Gantz
Univ. Of Arizona College of Law; Mexico Center, Baker Institute
Date Written: June 13, 2019
Abstract
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) provides chapters on labor rights and environmental protection that go well beyond the protections embodied in the two NAFTA "side Agreements" and in significant respects improve on those incorporated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiated by the Obama Administration. Among the most important USMCA innovations are requirements for new Mexican labor laws (now enacted) that for the first time should permit effective collective bargaining and union organization for workers in Mexico. The environmental provisions, while similar to those in the TPP in their treatment of such issues as over-fishing and marine pollution, also incorporate important procedural mechanisms such as NAFTA's Commission for Environmental Cooperation. This article discusses the evolution in labor and environmental protection from NAFTA to USMCA.
Keywords: free trade agreements, labor rights, environmental protection, NAFTA, USMCA, NAAEC, NAALC
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
David A. Gantz (Contact Author)

Univ. Of Arizona College of Law ( email )
P.O. Box 210176
Rogers College of Law
Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
United States
520-490-3004 (Phone)
Mexico Center, Baker Institute ( email )
6100 Main Street, MS-40
Houston, TX 77005
United States
520-490-3004 (Phone)
Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?
Related eJournals
-
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series
Subscribe to this free journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS4,248PAPERS695This Journal is curated by:Barak Orbach at University of Arizona -
International Economic Law eJournal
International Economic Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS1,289PAPERS13,201This Journal is curated by:Alan Sykes at Stanford University - Law School -
Law & Society: International & Comparative Law eJournal
Law & Society: International & Comparative Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS991PAPERS32,308This Journal is curated by:Christiana Ochoa at Indiana University Maurer School of Law -
International Employment & Labor Law eJournal
International Employment & Labor Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS927PAPERS2,007This Journal is curated by:J. H. Verkerke at University of Virginia School of Law -
Sustainability & Economics eJournal
Sustainability & Economics eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS898PAPERS28,164 -
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) eJournal
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS838PAPERS12,856This Journal is curated by:Timothy M. Devinney at University of Manchester - Alliance Manchester Business School -
Socially Responsible Investment eJournal
Socially Responsible Investment eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS642PAPERS18,479 -
Law, International Affairs & CSR eJournal
Law, International Affairs & CSR eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS628PAPERS13,467This Journal is curated by:Timothy M. Devinney at University of Manchester - Alliance Manchester Business School -
Water Sustainability eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS624PAPERS6,630 -
Economic Anthropology eJournal
Economic Anthropology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS621PAPERS8,452 -
Human Rights & the Corporation eJournal
Human Rights & the Corporation eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS609PAPERS11,514This Journal is curated by:Timothy M. Devinney at University of Manchester - Alliance Manchester Business School -
Employee Social Responsibility & HR Practices eJournal
Employee Social Responsibility & HR Practices eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS587PAPERS4,065This Journal is curated by:Timothy M. Devinney at University of Manchester - Alliance Manchester Business School -
Sustainability at Work eJournal
Sustainability at Work eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS578PAPERS7,648 -
International Environmental Law eJournal
International Environmental Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS348PAPERS4,232This Journal is curated by:Tseming Yang at Santa Clara Law School -
Environmental Anthropology eJournal
Environmental Anthropology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS342PAPERS8,994 -
Legal Anthropology: Laws & Constitutions eJournal
Legal Anthropology: Laws & Constitutions eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS201PAPERS13,788 -
Legal Anthropology: Law in Global Context eJournal
Legal Anthropology: Law in Global Context eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS200PAPERS7,937 -
International Political Economy: Trade Policy eJournal
International Political Economy: Trade Policy eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS69PAPERS10,774 -
Global Ecological Change eJournal
Global Ecological Change eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS68PAPERS3,975 -
Comparative Political Economy: Regulation eJournal
Comparative Political Economy: Regulation eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS66PAPERS22,580 -
Spatial Processes & Practices eJournal
Spatial Processes & Practices eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS45PAPERS6,903 -
Nature & Society eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS34PAPERS5,374