Notice2026-05898
Invitation for Applications for Inclusion on the Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Dispute Settlement Roster for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 26, 2026
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) requires the maintenance of a roster of individuals who would be available to serve as panelists for specialized labor panels. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) invites applications from eligible individuals wishing to be included on this roster.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14747-14748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05898]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Invitation for Applications for Inclusion on the Facility-
Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Dispute Settlement Roster for
the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice requesting applications.
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SUMMARY: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) requires the
maintenance of a roster of individuals who would be available to serve
as panelists for specialized labor panels. The Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR) invites applications from eligible
individuals wishing to be included on this roster.
DATES: To ensure consideration, USTR must receive your application by
April 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You should submit your application through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> (<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>), using
docket number USTR-2026-0100. Follow the submission instructions below.
For alternatives to online submissions, please contact Sandy McKinzy at
(202) 395-9483 before transmitting your application and in advance of
the deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the application
process, contact Sandy McKinzy, Paralegal Specialist, Office of
Monitoring and Enforcement, at (202) 395-9483. For all other inquiries,
contact Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Monitoring &
Enforcement Catherine Gibson at (202) 395-5725.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USTR is seeking applications from U.S.
citizens and nationals of other countries who are interested in serving
as panelists for labor dispute settlement panels established under the
USMCA. You can find the text of the USMCA on the USTR website: <a href="https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement">https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement</a>.
I. Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Under USMCA Annex
31-A
USMCA is a trilateral trade agreement between the United States,
Mexico, and Canada (the Parties). Annex 31-A establishes a facility-
specific rapid response labor mechanism (the RRM), as between the
United States and Mexico, which can be used whenever either Party
believes that workers at a Covered Facility (as defined in Article 31-
A.15) are being denied the right of free association and collective
bargaining under the laws necessary to fulfill the obligations of the
other Party under the USMCA (a Denial of Rights). A Party may ask a
labor panel under the RRM to request that the respondent Party allow it
an opportunity to verify the Covered Facility's compliance with the law
in question and to determine whether there has been a Denial of Rights.
See USMCA Article 31-A.5. Labor panelists submit a report to the
Parties commenting on the functioning of the RRM at the conclusion of
the first four-year term and every four years thereafter. See USMCA
Article 31-A.3.6.
USMCA requires the Parties to establish and maintain three lists of
panelists who are willing to commit to being generally available to
serve as labor panelists for the RRM. By the date of entry into force
of USMCA, each Party was required to appoint three individuals to one
list potentially comprised of its own nationals and appoint, by
consensus, three individuals to a joint list. The individuals on the
joint list may not be nationals of either the United States or Mexico.
By six months from entry into force of USMCA, the Parties were required
to expand the lists to at least five individuals, respectively.
Individuals on the lists were appointed for a minimum term of four
years or until the Parties constitute new lists. See Article 31-A.3.
To qualify for inclusion on the RRM lists, an applicant must:
<bullet> Have expertise and experience in labor law and practice,
and with the application of standards and rights as recognized by the
International Labor Organization;
<bullet> Be objective, reliable, and possess sound judgment;
<bullet> Be independent of, and not be affiliated with or take
instructions from, a Party; and
<bullet> Comply with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Free Trade
Commission established under Article 30.1. You can find the text of the
Code of Conduct on USTR's website: <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/usmca/AnnexIIIUSMCACodeConduct.pdf">https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/usmca/AnnexIIIUSMCACodeConduct.pdf</a>.
II. Request for Applications
USTR invites eligible individuals who wish to be considered for
inclusion on the RRM lists to submit applications through
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, using docket number USTR-2026-0100. In order to be
assured of consideration, USTR must receive your application by April
27, 2026. Applicants must file all submissions electronically via
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. For technical questions on submitting comments on
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, please contact the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> help desk at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#31435456445d5045585e5f4259545d415554425a715642501f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85f7e0e2f0e9e4f1eceaebf6ede0e9f5e1e0f6eec5e2f6e4abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a> or 1 (866) 498-2945. For alternatives to
online submissions, please contact Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-9483
before transmitting your application and in advance of the deadline.
To submit an application via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, enter docket number
USTR-2026-0100 on the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> home page and click `search.' The
site will provide a search-results page listing all documents
associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by
selecting `notice' under `document type' on the left side of the
search-results page, and click on the `comment' link. For further
information on using the <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> website, please consult
the resources provided on the website by clicking on `FAQ' at the
bottom of the page.
The <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> website allows users to provide comments by
filling in a `comment' field, or by attaching a document using an
`attach files' field. USTR prefers that candidates submit applications
in an attached document. All submissions must be typewritten in English
and be prepared in (or be compatible with) Microsoft Word (.doc) or
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. Include any data attachments to the
submission in the same file as the submission itself, and not as
separate files.
Applications should include the following information, and should
number each section of the application as indicated:
1. Name of the applicant.
2. Business address, telephone number, fax number, and email
address.
3. Citizenship(s).
4. Current employment, including title, description of
responsibility, and name and address of employer.
5. Relevant education and professional training.
6. Fluency in any relevant language other than English, written and
spoken.
7. Post-education employment history, including the dates and
addresses of each prior position, a summary of responsibilities, and a
list of clients represented in the prior five years.
8. Relevant professional affiliations and certifications,
including, if any, current bar memberships in good standing.
9. A list and copies of publications, testimony, and speeches, if
any, concerning the relevant area(s) of expertise. Judges or former
judges should list relevant judicial decisions.
[[Page 14748]]
Submit only one copy of publications, testimony, speeches, and
decisions.
10. A list of international trade proceedings or domestic
proceedings relating to labor law or other relevant matters in which
the applicant has provided advice to a party or otherwise participated.
11. Summary of any current and past employment by, or consulting or
other work for, the Governments of the United States, Mexico, or
Canada.
12. The names and nationalities of all foreign principals for whom
the applicant is currently or has previously been registered pursuant
to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, 22 U.S.C. 611 et seq., and the
dates of all registration periods.
13. A short statement of qualifications and availability for
service, including information relevant to the applicant's familiarity
with labor law, and willingness and ability to make time commitments
necessary for service on panels.
14. On a separate page, the names, addresses, telephone and fax
numbers of three individuals willing to provide information concerning
the applicant's qualifications for service, including the applicant's
character, reputation, reliability, judgment, and familiarity with
labor law.
III. Public Disclosure
Applications are covered by a Privacy Act System of Records Notice
(<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-22/pdf/2016-30496.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-22/pdf/2016-30496.pdf</a>).
They are not subject to public disclosure, and USTR will not post
applications publicly on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. USTR may share applications
with other federal agencies, advisory committees, the House Committee
on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Government
of Mexico (for joint list applicants) prior to determining whether to
appoint persons to the relevant list.
IV. False Statements
False statements by an applicant regarding their personal or
professional qualifications, or financial or other relevant interests
that bear on the applicant's suitability for placement on a list or
appointment to a panel are subject to criminal sanctions under 18
U.S.C. 1001.
Jennifer Thornton,
General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2026-05898 Filed 3-25-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F4-P
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