Former President Donald Trump is once again pledging to revive American manufacturing and bring back jobs by renegotiating a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. This time, he aims to improve the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which he signed in 2018 to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), previously deemed by him as the “worst trade deal ever made.”

During a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump announced plans to invoke the USMCA’s six-year renegotiation clause upon taking office. He believes the agreement can be enhanced, particularly concerning the car industry. “I want to make it a much better deal,” he stated.

The USMCA mandates a review by the signatory countries at the six-year mark, a provision Trump included. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee, has also expressed intentions to review the USMCA, citing concerns over its adequacy for protecting American workers and addressing climate change.

Originally, the USMCA aimed to modernize trade rules, requiring that 75% of a vehicle’s parts be made in North America to avoid tariffs, up from 62.5% under NAFTA. It also mandated that more parts be produced by workers earning at least $16 an hour and included significant provisions for digital trade, labor rights, and environmental protections. As both Trump and Harris seek to reevaluate the agreement, the future of U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade remains a critical issue.