On February 11, sources revealed that US President Trump was privately considering withdrawing from the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), injecting new uncertainty into the ongoing key renegotiations between the three countries. These sources stated that Trump had asked aides why they shouldn't withdraw from the agreement he signed during his first term, but he has not yet explicitly indicated that he will take this action. A White House official, responding to the discussion, stated that Trump is the ultimate decision-maker and consistently seeks a more favorable agreement for the American people.
The official stated that discussions regarding potential action prior to the president's official announcement were unfounded speculation. The agreement is scheduled for a mandatory review on July 1st, at which time a decision may be made regarding its extension. What was initially expected to be a routine procedure has now devolved into a contentious negotiation. Trump has demanded more trade concessions from Ottawa and Mexico City and pressured them to address unrelated issues such as immigration, drug trafficking, and defense. (Jinshi)
