The Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM), developed under the first Trump Administration as part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), provides the U.S. with unprecedented leverage to level the playing field for American workers and businesses, so they can compete fairly with foreign workers and businesses in global markets. The measures adopted in RRM cases put American workers and businesses first by curbing the unfair trade practice of artificially suppressing wages in Mexico.
In addition to petitions under the USMCA Labor Chapter, the RRM permits the U.S. government to act fast against individual facilities that appear to be denying workers the right of freedom of association and collective bargaining under Mexican law.
The Department of Labor and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have collaborated on multiple RRM cases to protect workers’ rights under the USMCA, which has the strongest labor provisions of any U.S. trade agreement. Read more about individual cases here.
- U.S., Mexico announce enforcement of worker protection agreement (7/9/2021)
- Mexican laborers’ vote on future of collective bargaining agreement at Silao General Motors’ plant is a win for labor protections (8/20/2021)
- Statement of Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh applaud successful first course of remediation under USMCA’s Rapid Response Mechanism (9/22/2021)
- Workers at General Motors’ Silao plant participate in historic labor election (2/3/2022)
- Committee co-chaired by US Labor Department, US Trade Representative requests Mexico review alleged labor rights denial at Reynosa parts plant (5/18/2022)
- U.S. Department of Labor, US Trade Representative applaud agreement to resolve alleged violations of workers’ rights at Panasonic auto parts plant (7/18/2022)
- U.S. government seeks Mexico’s review of allegations that workers’ rights to associate, collectively bargain were denied at Coahuila auto parts plant (7/21/2022)
- Secretary of Labor, US Trade Representative support protection of labor rights at Mexico’s Manufacturas VU auto parts facility (9/14/2022)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Representative again request Mexico review alleged labor rights denial at Piedras Negras auto parts plant (1/30/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Representative reach agreement on course of remediation to address labor rights violations at Piedras Negras plant (3/31/2023)
- Statement by Undersecretary of Labor for International Affairs Thea Lee on closure of auto parts facility accused of labor rights violations at Piedras Negras plant in Mexico (10/10/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Representative request Mexico review alleged denial of labor rights at Goodyear rubber tire plant in San Luis Potosí (5/22/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Representative reach agreement with Mexican government to address labor violations at San Luis Potosí tire plant (7/19/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce successful remediation of denial of workers’ rights at Goodyear tire plant in Mexico (2/5/2024)
- United States Seeks Mexico's Review of Alleged Denial of Workers' Rights at Draxton Facility (5/31/2023; USTR)
- United States and Mexico Plan to Remediate Denials of Rights at Draxton Facility (7/31/2023; USTR)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Trade Representative announce remediation prevented labor rights denial, allowed new union election at Draxton Mexico (4/9/2024)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Representative request Mexico review alleged denial of labor rights at INISA 2000 garment plant in Aguascalientes (6/12/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Representative reach agreement with Mexican government to address labor violations at Aguascalientes garment plant (8/9/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights’ denials at Mexican garment factory (12/11/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Trade Representative request Mexican government review alleged denial of labor rights at Teklas parts plant in Aguascalientes (9/25/2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of US Trade Representative announce rights denial remediation, new union election at Teklas Automotive Mexico (4/9/2024)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative find denial of labor rights at Asiaway auto parts plant in San Luis Potosí (10/23/2023)
- United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Mechanism Labor Matter at Asiaway Automotive Components México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (2/16/2024; USTR)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of US Trade Representative find labor rights’ denial at Volkswagen plant, Mexico’s largest auto assembly facility (5/28/2024)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative reach agreement with Mexican government to protect labor rights at Puebla Volkswagen plant (7/30/2024)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Trade Representative announce resolution of course of remediation at Puebla, Mexico, Volkswagen plant (8/26/24)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged labor rights denial at Impro Industries in San Luis Potosí (7/25/2024)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights’ denials at San Luis Potosí parts maker (9/17/24)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of labor rights at Hidalgo, Mexico, cement plant facility (10/23/24)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights’ denial at Hidalgo manufacturer (12/20/24)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of labor rights at glass facility in Matamoros, Mexico (11/8/24)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights denial at Matamoros door manufacturer (1/10/25)
- United States Trade Representative, United States Seeks Mexico's Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Aludyne Automotive Mexico City, S.A. de C.V. (4/3/25)
- United States Trade Representative, United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Aludyne Automotive Mexico City, S.A. de C.V. (6/2/25)
- United States Trade Representative, United States Seeks Mexican Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Modern Metal Alloys, S.A. de C.V. (4/16/25)
- U.S. Department of Labor, United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Modern Metal Alloys, S.A. de C.V. (7/21/25)
- U.S. Department of Labor, United States seeks review of alleged denial of rights at automobile wheel manufacturer in Mexico (6/4/25)
- United States Trade Representative, United States Seeks Mexico’s Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Superior Industries de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (6/4/25)
- U.S. Department of Labor, United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Matter at Superior Industries de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (8/5/25)
- U.S. Department of Labor, US Department of Labor, Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of rights at steel pipe manufacturer in Mexico (6/13/25)
- United States Trade Representative, United States Seeks Mexico's Review of Alleged Denial of Workers’ Rights at Tubos de Acero de Mexico, S.A. (6/13/25)