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In-Depth Analysis of the Impact of USMCA Trade Agreement Adjustments on Investment in Three Major North American Sectors

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January 14, 2026

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In-Depth Analysis of the Impact of USMCA Trade Agreement Adjustments on Investment in Three Major North American Sectors

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In-Depth Analysis of the Impact of USMCA Trade Agreement Adjustments on Investment in Three Major North American Sectors
I. Background and Current Status

According to the latest information, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Congress in December 2025 that the Trump administration may withdraw from or renegotiate the USMCA. The agreement will undergo a statutory review in July 2026, at which point the three countries will decide whether to extend the agreement to 2042, maintain the annual review mechanism, or allow it to expire in 2036[1][2].

Key Timeline:

  • January 2025:
    The Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, but products complying with USMCA rules of origin were exempt[3]
  • July 2026:
    USMCA statutory review deadline
  • Current Status:
    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that there is no withdrawal plan, and only the scheduled review will be conducted[1]

II. Industry Impact Assessment
1. Manufacturing Sector (Impact Level:
Extremely High
)

The automotive manufacturing industry will be hit the hardest:

Company Mexican Business Layout Current Market Capitalization Risk Exposure
General Motors (GM)
4 manufacturing plants, exported 355,000 vehicles to the U.S. in 2024 $77.72B Extremely High
Ford Motor (F)
Cuautitlán and Hermosillo assembly plants, Chihuahua engine plant $54.89B Extremely High
Stellantis
Has a large Mexican business, is evaluating capacity relocation $29.33B Extremely High

Ford CEO Jim Farley warned: “In the long run, a 25% tariff on the Mexican and Canadian borders would deal an unprecedented blow to the U.S. auto industry.”[3]

Highly Integrated Supply Chain:

  • Mexico’s auto production fell 3.7% year-on-year in October 2025, mainly affected by semiconductor shortages and USMCA uncertainty[4]
  • For decades, Mexican factories have frequently shipped auto parts back and forth multiple times during the manufacturing process
  • Vehicles complying with USMCA are temporarily exempt from tariffs, but non-compliant products are subject to a 25% tariff[5]

Manufacturer Response Strategies:

  • Mazda, Honda, and General Motors are increasing local procurement and diversifying suppliers
  • Stellantis announced plans to double its U.S. production over the next four years with a $13 billion investment[6]
2. Retail Sector (Impact Level:
High
)

Major Retailers’ Business Layout in Mexico/Canada:

Company International Business Proportion Mexican Business Performance Risk Level
Walmart (WMT)
International sales grew 10.8%, driven mainly by Mexico One of the largest international business markets High
Costco (COST)
Has large warehouse stores in both Canada and Mexico Highly integrated supply chain Medium-High

Retail Sector Risk Factors:

  • Approximately 85% of Mexico’s exports still enjoy zero-tariff treatment under USMCA protection[7]
  • If USMCA expires, retailers will face a significant increase in costs
  • As one of the largest U.S. importers, Walmart is extremely sensitive to supply chain disruptions
3. Agricultural Sector (Impact Level:
Medium-High
)

Agricultural Trade Pattern:

Trade Flow Proportion Key Products
U.S. Agricultural Exports to Mexico Mexico is the largest export market Corn, soybeans, pork
U.S. Agricultural Exports to Canada Second largest export market Meat, grains, oilseeds
U.S. Imports from Mexico Accounts for 69% of U.S. vegetable imports Fresh vegetables, tomatoes

Agricultural Equipment Manufacturers:

Company Market Capitalization Business Sensitivity
Deere & Company (DE)
$134.43B Highly integrated North American supply chain
AGCO Corporation
$8.32B Agricultural machinery exporter

Special Considerations for the Agricultural Sector:

  • Canada was the U.S.'s largest export destination in 2024[8]
  • The establishment of the Advisory Committee on Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products reflects concerns about the competitiveness of domestic producers[9]
  • Agricultural equipment dealers face pressure from rising input costs of steel and aluminum

III. Key Companies with Operations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada Affected
List of High-Exposure Risk Companies

Automotive Manufacturing Industry:

  1. General Motors (GM)
    - One of the largest automakers in Mexico, leads in exports to the U.S.
  2. Ford Motor (F)
    - Stock price rose 26.53% in the past 90 days, but has high exposure risk in Mexico[0]
  3. Stellantis NV (STLA)
    - Stock price fell 8.5% in the past 90 days, Canadian business faces risks[0]
  4. Honda Motor (HMC)
    - Has extensive production capacity layout in Mexico
  5. BMW (BMW)
    - Has a production base for high-end models in Mexico

Retail Sector:

  1. Walmart Inc. (WMT)
    - Market capitalization of $957.94 billion, international business is highly dependent on Mexico
  2. Costco Wholesale (COST)
    - Has important businesses in both Canada and Mexico
  3. Target Corp. (TGT)
    - Supply chain covers all three countries

Agriculture and Food Processing:

  1. Deere & Company (DE)
    - Agricultural equipment manufacturing relies on regional supply chains
  2. Tyson Foods (TSN)
    - Meat processing spans the borders of the three countries
  3. Cargill
    - Private company, agricultural products trading giant

IV. Investment Impact and Risk Assessment
Short-Term Impact (2025-2026)
Indicator Expected Change Reason
Mexican Auto Production Down 3-5% Tariff uncertainty + supply chain adjustments
Retail Costs Up 5-10% Tariff pass-through for non-USMCA goods
Agricultural Equipment Orders Down 10-15% Farmers postpone purchases to wait and see policy developments
Long-Term Scenario Analysis

Scenario A: Agreement Maintains Status Quo (Probability: 35%)

  • Maintain the annual review mechanism
  • Tariffs remain unchanged, products complying with USMCA are exempt
  • Market uncertainty decreases, manufacturing stocks rebound

Scenario B: Agreement Renegotiated (Probability: 45%)

  • Stricter rules of origin
  • Mexico may face more non-tariff barriers
  • Supply chain adjusts gradually, costs rise moderately

Scenario C: Agreement Terminated/Withdrawn (Probability: 20%)

  • Full restoration of 25% tariffs
  • Mexico loses approximately 85% of tariff exemption protection[7]
  • Large-scale supply chain restructuring, significant sell-off of manufacturing stocks

V. Investment Strategy Recommendations
High-Risk Exposure Targets (Recommend Reduce Holdings or Hedge)
  1. Ford (F)
    - P/E ratio 11.99, low valuation but extremely high exposure in Mexico
  2. Stellantis (STLA)
    - In a loss-making state (P/E ratio -10.15), highest risk
  3. AGCO
    - Fell 12.3% in the past 90 days, most vulnerable in the agricultural equipment sector
Relatively Defensive Targets
  1. Walmart (WMT)
    - Despite high exposure risk, scale advantages and pricing power provide a buffer
  2. Deere (DE)
    - Leader in agricultural equipment, technical barriers provide certain protection
Potential Beneficiary Sectors
  1. U.S. Domestic Manufacturing
    - Expectation of supply chain reshoring
  2. Defense-Related Manufacturing
    - May receive policy support
  3. Domestic Agriculture
    - Reduced import competition

VI. Key Monitoring Indicators
Indicator Warning Threshold Explanation
USMCA Review Progress July 2026 Key node for the fate of the agreement
Mexican Auto Production Year-on-year change < -10% Signal of supply chain deterioration
Agricultural Equipment Orders Decline for 3 consecutive months Signal of agricultural investment contraction
Retailer Inventory Costs Increase > 15% Cost pass-through pressure

VII. Conclusion

Potential adjustments to the USMCA trade agreement will have far-reaching impacts on the North American economy:

  1. Manufacturing
    will be hit most directly, especially automakers highly dependent on Mexican assembly operations
  2. Retail
    will face rising supply chain costs, squeezing profit margins
  3. Agricultural sector
    has medium exposure, but is vulnerable to trade policy uncertainty

Investors should closely monitor the results of the July 2026 USMCA review and take appropriate risk management measures for high-exposure targets. The current market has already partially priced in these uncertainties, but if the agreement deteriorates, it may trigger a significant adjustment in the manufacturing sector.


References

[1] Mexico Business News - “2025 in Review: Plan Mexico, US Relations, New Tariffs” (https://mexicobusiness.news/policyandeconomy/news/2025-review-plan-mexico-us-relations-new-tariffs)

[2] Grant Thornton - “2026 in manufacturing: Policy risks and opportunities” (https://www.grantthornton.com/insights/articles/manufacturing/2026/2026-manufacturing-policy-risks-opportunities)

[3] Wikipedia - “Tariffs in Trump’s Second Term” (https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/特朗普第二届任期关税)

[4] Commercial Carrier Journal - “Mexico blockades, Canada crackdown strain cross-border freight capacity” (https://www.ccjdigital.com/business/article/15774768/mexico-blockades-canada-crackdown-strain-crossborder-freight-capacity)

[5] Skadden - “Turbulence Ahead: Tariff and Trade Policy Shifts” (https://www.skadden.com/insights/publications/2026/2026-insights/regulatory-enforcement/turbulence-ahead)

[6] Fastmarkets - “The Steel Timeline of Trade Policies in 2025” (https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/ghost-of-steel-past-a-timeline-of-2025-in-the-americas-steel-industry/)

[7] Supply Chain by the Numbers - “Jan. 8, 2026” (https://www.scdigest.com/assets/newsviews/26-01-08.php?CID=23015)

[8] Farm Equipment - “Why the USMCA Review Matters to Farm Equipment Dealers” (https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/24898-why-the-usmca-review-matters-to-farm-equipment-dealers)

[9] Choices Magazine - “Trade and Supply Chain Impacts of Tariffs on Fresh Vegetable Imports from Mexico” (https://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/trade-theme---part-2/trade-and-supply-chain-impacts-of-tariffs-on-fresh-vegetable-imports-from-mexico)

[0] Jinling AI - Market Data and Real-Time Quotes

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