The 2026 USMCA Review and the Fight Against Corruption in Mexico: Challenges to Chapter 27 Compliance amid the Current State of Mexico’s National Anti-Corruption System
In July 2026, the United States, Mexico, and Canada began their joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a process that raises important considerations around the future of North American economic integration. At the start of the review, the United States announced that it would not extend the agreement in its current form for an additional 16 years, triggering a period of annual reviews and negotiations that will continue through 2036.
This process occurs at a moment of significant institutional change in Mexico. Beginning in late 2024, the country has adopted a series of reforms affecting key components of its anti-corruption and transparency framework, including the elimination of autonomous bodies, changes to the National Anti-Corruption System (SNA), as well as reforms affecting institutions responsible for upholding accountability and public oversight.
This report examines these developments through the lens of Chapter 27 of the USMCA, which establishes commitments related to anti-corruption, transparency, public sector integrity, whistleblower protections, and cooperation among the three member countries. While the Chapter’s dispute settlement mechanisms are limited under the agreement, compliance with these commitments is an important signal of institutional strength and can influence how Mexico is viewed by its trading partners during and following the review process.
These issues are particularly relevant for businesses as anti-corruption frameworks help shape the broader economic and legal conditions under which trade and investment activities take place. Specifically, the report highlights how factors like transparency, effective oversight, and enforcing anti-corruption laws contribute to legal certainty and influence investors’ perceptions of risk. As the signatory governments evaluate the future of the USMCA, these factors may also affect discussions surrounding Mexico’s investment climate and economic reliability.
Report Outline
The report examines:
- Anti-corruption obligations established by Chapter 27 of the USMA
- Recent reforms affecting Mexico’s anti-corruption and transparency framework
- Current challenges facing the country’s National Anti-Corruption System at the federal and state levels
It assesses key implications of these developments, with a particular focus on how they affect Mexico’s position during the USMCA review process and what they mean for businesses and investors operating in the country.
The report offers an overview of the main issues that companies, chambers of commerce, and business associations should consider when assessing the relationship between Mexico’s anti-corruption framework and the ongoing USMCA joint review.
It serves as a practical resource for these groups to understand how recent institutional developments may affect trade, investment, and governance in Mexico over the coming decade.
