In an April 21, 2020, Federal Register notice, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced procedures for North American producers of passenger vehicles or light trucks to submit petitions requesting an alternative staging regime: An interested vehicle producer must submit a petition with a draft alternative staging plan no later than July 1, 2020; and a final alternative staging plan, correcting any deficiencies, must be submitted no later than August 31, 2020.

The Federal Register notice states that producers of heavy trucks or other vehicles, although having other rules of origin and regional value content requirements, may also request the alternative staging regime through this process.

Key Notes:

  • Vehicle producers who want to use a different transition plan than the one specified in the USMCA for moving into compliance with the USMCA’s rules of origin for automotive goods must submit petitions by July 1.
  • Passenger vehicles and light trucks are discussed in the USTR procedures, but the procedures note that heavy truck producers may also use this process.

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