The Mexican peso is rallying on Monday after the US, Canada, and Mexico announced a new trilateral trade agreement called the USMCA, abandoning the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) term. The pesoâs strong performance to kick off the trading week comes after recording an admirable third-quarter performance among emerging-market currencies.
Hours before the key US-imposed October 1 deadline, the three nations announced a new trade pact that will likely go into effect in the second half of 2019.
Speaking with reporters on the White House lawn, President Donald Trump called it the most important trade agreement that his administration has signed, stating that âthis is good for everybody.”
Trump also tweeted on Monday morning:
Late last night, our deadline, we reached a wonderful new Trade Deal with Canada, to be added into the deal already reached with Mexico. The new name will be The United States Mexico Canada Agreement, or USMCA. It is a great deal for all three countries, solves the many deficiencies and mistakes in NAFTA, greatly opens markets to our Farmers and Manufacturers, reduces Trade Barriers to the U.S. and will bring all three Great Nations together in competition with the rest of the world. The USMCA is a historic transaction!
Congratulations to Mexico and Canada!
After the announcement was made, the Prime Ministerâs Office (PMO) published a news release:
The Prime Minister and President stressed that the agreement would bring the countries closer together, create jobs and grow the middle class, enhance North American competitiveness, and provide stability, predictability, and prosperity to the region. The leaders agreed to keep in close touch and move the agreement forward.
The conclusion came at the right time because the US midterm elections are a little more than a month away and Mexicoâs president-elect will soon take office. Also, Canada will be holding a general election in the spring.
So, what is inside the agreement?
US farmers will have better access to Canadaâs supply-managed dairy market. Online cross-border shipments to Canada worth less than $150 will not be subjected to duties anymore. Canada will be exempted from auto tariffs, but the exchange of aluminum and steel tariffs remain in place. The new trade deal will also allow independent panels to resolve trade spats.
The USCMA is good for 16 years, but it will require a so-called joint review every six years.
This comes as the Mexican peso is fresh off a record third quarter after topping the list of emerging market currencies. The peso surged 6.5% in the July-to-September period, something that stumped analysts who were not expecting such a performance in 2018. The peso benefited from reaching a bilateral trade deal with the US in August.
The USD/MXN currency pair tumbled 0.19% to 18.6915, from an opening of 18.7235, at 17:09 GMT on Monday. The USD/CAD fell 0.85% to 1.2801, from an opening of 1.2911.
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