U.S. Democrats urge USMCA panel against Mexico over vaquita marina protection

A group of 39 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives has urged the Trump administration to call for a dispute settlement panel under the USMCA to address Mexico's failure to protect the vaquita marina.

In a letter addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the lawmakers questioned the lack of action regarding Mexico's non-compliance with its own conservation laws. The group, led by Representative Lloyd Doggett, noted that the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) previously determined that Mexico has failed to effectively implement a ban on gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California.

The vaquita marina, the world's smallest cetacean and most endangered marine mammal, is at extreme risk of extinction. Recent monitoring in 2024 suggests only between 6 and 8 individuals may remain. The congressmen argued that while Mexico prohibited gillnets in 2020, illegal use continues, and they are seeking trade sanctions to ensure full enforcement of environmental and fishing regulations.