JAMA Comments in Response to the USTR Request for Public Comment on USMCA

On November 3, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) submitted comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in response to the September 17, 2025, request for comments relating to the operation of the agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada.

Overview

JAMA members are major investors in the North American automotive market. The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) has helped Japanese-brand automakers provide good-quality foreign direct investment (FDI) and demonstrate their ongoing commitment to manufacturing throughout North America. These investments have contributed to the substantial development and progress of numerous communities throughout North America, and in particular within the United States, which has significantly benefited from these investments for the past 40+ years.

Given the USMCA’s positive impact on automotive manufacturing investment in the U.S. and throughout North America, JAMA strongly supports the extension of the agreement.

• USMCA helps JAMA members invest efficiently in the U.S. – With the advent of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 and, subsequently, USMCA in 2020, the interconnectedness of the auto sector throughout North America, including its multi-layered supply chains, deepened. From an investment perspective, the regional trade agreement enables JAMA members to plan for production growth by leveraging the efficiencies created through this interconnectedness.
• USMCA fuels JAMA Members’ U.S. investments – Since the U.S., Canada, and Mexico entered into a regional free trade agreement, JAMA members substantially and consistently increased their manufacturing investments in the U.S. Specifically, since 1994, when the agreement went into effect, Japanese-brand automakers have opened 7 vehicle manufacturing facilities, 4 engine manufacturing facilities, and 3 parts manufacturing facilities (including transmission manufacturing in the U.S).
• USMCA Supports North America’s Global Competitiveness – As a result of years of investments and integration across the region, approximately 75 percent of what our members sell in the U.S. is manufactured in North America, with approximately 50 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. being made in the U.S. Of the vehicles produced in the U.S. that are not sold in the U.S., the vast majority head across the border to Canada and Mexico. This continuous cycle of investment and North American supply chain integration supports U.S. manufacturing, exports, and ultimately enables the North American market to be globally competitive.

Conclusion

As Japanese-brand automakers have built upon their successful manufacturing investments in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the USMCA has helped them make efficient and predictable investments, which only further fuel investments in the region as the market grows. The interconnectedness of all three countries’ automotive supply chains has created a strong, globally competitive North American automotive industry, which is highly valued and benefits investors and consumers alike.

Given the USMCA’s positive impact on automotive manufacturing investment in the U.S., JAMA strongly supports the extension of the agreement and welcomes further engagement and dialogue during the USMCA review process.

To read JAMA’s full comment submission click here. 

Visit JAMAinAmerica.org to learn more about JAMA members’ strong commitment to manufacturing and the American workforce.