NRF - National Retail Federation

04/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/13/2026 15:59

American, Canadian and Mexican Retail Organizations United in Support of USMCA/CUSMA

American, Canadian and Mexican Retail Organizations United in Support of USMCA/CUSMA

For immediate release
April 13, 2026

WASHINGTON - During a visit to Washington, the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) met with the National Retail Federation (NRF) to discuss, among other things, the importance of preserving the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. American, Canadian and Mexican retail leadership stand firmly together in our support of preserving the USMCA. Kim Furlong, president and CEO of RCC; Matthew Shay, president and CEO of NRF; and Diego Cosio Barto, executive president and CEO of ANTAD, issued the following statement regarding the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA/CUSMA):

As our nations approach the scheduled 2026 review of the USMCA/CUSMA, we stand united in our support for the North American commercial partnership. Our primary message to our respective governments is clear: Above all else, do no harm.

The integrated nature of our retail supply chains has enriched the lives of citizens in Canada, the United States and Mexico alike. We view the upcoming milestone as a formal review of the agreement and an opportunity to fine-tune a successful framework.

To ensure our continued prosperity, our organizations emphasize the following priorities:

  • Maintain a tripartite deal: It is essential that the agreement remains a three-country pact. The trilateral nature of this deal is what provides the stability and scale necessary for North American businesses to compete globally.

  • Protect cross-border movement: Generations of cooperation must not be undone. We must ensure that the seamless movement of goods, investments, people and ideas continues to flow across our borders without friction.

  • Tariff-free trade: For the benefit of consumers and retailers, it is critical that compliant goods continue to transit between our nations tariff-free. Predictability in trade costs is the backbone of retail affordability.


NRF, RCC and ANTAD will continue to carry this message through the review process and work tirelessly to ensure that the North American retail environment remains resilient, competitive and beneficial for consumers and businesses in all three nations.

About NRF
The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation's largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs - 55 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com

About the Retail Council of Canada
Retail is Canada's largest private-sector employer with over 2.3 million Canadians working in our industry. This sector is a major economic contributor, generating more than $101 billion annually in wages and employee benefits. In 2025, core retail sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline) exceeded $532 billion. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members account for more than two thirds of these core retail sales and 95 per cent of the grocery market. Our membership extends across the country, embracing over 65,000 storefronts in diverse formats such as department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers, online merchants, and quick service restaurants. As the Voice of Retail™ in Canada, RCC, a not-for-profit, industry-funded association, proudly represents retail businesses of all sizes, from small independents to large national chains, in communities nationwide.

About ANTAD
ANTAD is the National Association of Selfservice and Department store chains in Mexico. ANTAD represents 124 national retail chains with more than 55,000 stores nationwide in a variety of formats such as Supermarkets, Department, Grocery, Convenience, Drugstore and Specialty retailers. Members employ more than 920 thousand people. ANTAD´s consolidated core retail sales exceeded $100 billion in 2025. ANTAD has been the voice of organized retail for more than 43 years promoting free trade, formal retail, and the positive impact of retail in local communities and Mexico.

Press Contacts
  • Mary McGinty
  • Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs
Related Content
NRF - National Retail Federation published this content on April 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 13, 2026 at 21:59 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]