IAM Automotive Director Urges Trade Commission to Implement Stronger Protections for American Workers

IAM Automotive Director Craig Hughes recently testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission, calling for stronger North American automotive trade rules that protect American manufacturing jobs, strengthen domestic suppliers and ensure workers benefit from the industry's future.

Hughes testified in the hearing as part of the USITC's investigation on the impact of USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin on the United States, joining labor leaders, industry representatives and academic experts.

Hughes urged the commission to examine whether the rules are delivering on their promise to support American manufacturing, particularly across the automotive supplier network, where production shifts to Mexico have contributed to job losses and economic hardship in U.S. communities.

He also called for stronger labor standards and enforcement, including a wage floor to raise pay for Mexican manufacturing workers while helping to keep American jobs at home. He emphasized the need to expand the USMCA's Rapid Response Mechanism to better protect workers' rights.

As electric vehicles, batteries and advanced automotive technologies reshape the industry, Hughes urged officials to update the rules to encourage investment and production in the U.S. while protecting jobs throughout the supply chain.

The IAM is urging the Commission to put workers at the center of its 2027 report and evaluate trade rules by their impact on American jobs, domestic investment and working families.

"The success of these rules should be evaluated not only by the volume of trade or the number of vehicles that qualify for preferential treatment, but also by what they mean for American manufacturing workers and the communities that depend on them," said Hughes.