Mexican Wheel Plant Targeted in USMCA Action

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated a request under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s (USMCA) Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) to investigate whether workers at Superior Industries de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The U.S. has also suspended liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the facility, which manufactures aluminum wheels for light vehicles.

The facility under scrutiny is located in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is operated by Superior Industries International, Inc., a leading North American supplier of cast aluminum wheels. The company employs approximately 4,100 workers globally, with around 1,500 employees in Mexico, including those at the Chihuahua plant, and 2,600 in the United States, according to its latest annual report.

The petition triggering the investigation was filed on May 5, 2025, by the Confederación Autónoma de Trabajadores y Empleados de México (CATEM). It alleges that the company engaged in intimidation and harassment to suppress union support. After review, the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC) determined there is sufficient evidence to justify invoking the RRM.

Under USMCA rules, Mexico has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and, if it does, 45 days to complete the process. The outcome could result in remedial measures if a denial of rights is confirmed.