Establishment of the Interagency Environment Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement Under Section 811 of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act
This executive order establishes the Interagency Environment Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (the Committee) to coordinate U.S. efforts to monitor and enforce environmental obligations under Title VIII of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act. The Committee is charged with assessing environmental laws and policies of Mexico and Canada, monitoring their implementation, and coordinating enforcement actions available under Section 814 of the Act. It creates a formal, interagency decision-making body chaired by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and directs member agencies to provide staff and resources to support the Committee’s work. The order also authorizes implementing regulations to carry out the authorities in Title VIII and clarifies that the arrangement does not alter existing legal authorities or budgetary processes, nor does it grant new rights to individuals.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Interagency Environment Committee to monitor and enforce USMCA environmental obligations under Title VIII and to assess and monitor environmental laws/policies in Mexico and Canada, including pursuing enforcement actions under Section 814.
- 2Membership and leadership: the Committee includes USTR (as Chair) and senior officials from State, Treasury, Justice, Interior (FWS, Forest Service, APHIS), Commerce (NOAA), Homeland Security (CBP), EPA, and USAID, with authority to add others; agencies must provide necessary staff.
- 3Decision-making: the Committee aims to reach decisions by consensus; if consensus cannot be reached and the Chair determines further time would cause undue delay, decisions may be made by a majority vote.
- 4Implementing measures: agency heads, in consultation with the Committee, may issue regulations as needed to carry out the authorities under subtitle A of Title VIII.
- 5General provisions: each agency bears its own costs; cannot impair existing statutory authorities or OMB budget responsibilities; the order is subject to applicable law and appropriations and does not grant enforceable rights to individuals.