Mexico accuses US of “blindsiding” them post trade deal

Shortly after signing the USMCA agreement, Mexico says the U.S. blindsided them by sending up to five attachés to monitor labor conditions as part of the deal. 

But the last-minute dispute has been resolved. According to The Washington Post, Jesús Seade, Mexico's Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, said he settled the issue after his Monday meeting in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

The newspaper said Lighthizer released a letter to Seade that said the new U.S. attachés "will not be labor inspectors." 

They would not conduct factory inspections, the letter said.The Washington Post reported Seade saying he's "very satisfied" with the assurances.

USMCA is intended to replace NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.