August 7, 2023: USTR announces its request for Mexican government to review labor rights concerns at Grupo Yazaki Planta León automotive wiring harness factory in Guanajuato, and requests Treasury to suspend settlement of customs accounts for US imports from that factory. Links: USTR request; USTR press release; El Universal.
August 18: Mexican Ministry of Economy announces that it has notified USTR that Mexico will not review an alleged denial of labor rights at auto parts company Grupo Yazaki in Guanajuato. As Mexico had informed USTR before its review request, Mexican labor authorities had conducted a verification, had resolved instances of nonconformity and had carried out a 2023 consultation on legitimization of the collective bargaining agreement at the Guanajuato plant. On this basis, labor authorities had determined that no substantial evidence exists of employer interference or denial by Yazaki of rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Inside US Trade reports August 18 that USTR is reviewing Mexico’s response.
Link: Mexican CFCRL online master list of collective bargaining agreements that went through the legitimation process provided in Mexico’s new labor law. List includes labor contract between Grupo Yazaki and Miguel Lopez Trujillo (CTM-affiliated) union.
Press: El Economista; AP (reporting that the union that brought the RRM petition lost an election in March 2023 to the CTM union).
October 4: Mexican government announces that Mexico and US have agreed to conclude review of Grupo Yazaki with no invocation of a RRM dispute resolution panel. On August 18, Ministry of Labor had determined there was no evidence of denial of labor rights by Grupo Yazaki. Grupo Yazaki proactively (1) published neutrality statement on its website and at its Mexican facilities, (2) had Labor Ministry training for workers at its Planta León factory; ILO will train union personnel; (3) Mexican government will inspect León plant and post statement on labor rights during any union vote. USTR announces successful resolution of RRM labor issue at Grupo Yazaki Planta León factory, states that the situation brought to USTR’s attention via petition has been resolved and the US agrees that there is no ongoing denial of rights. USTR directs Treasury to resume customs liquidation for entries of goods from Planta León factory. Links: Reuters report.