USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
- Committees
- Ways and Means Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Feb 9, 2026
Bottom line
The bill mandates the USTR to create a formal trilateral working group under USMCA to boost North American travel and tourism, aiming for increased economic growth and job creation.
What it actually does
This bill directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to prioritize the establishment of a Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during the next joint review. The working group would be composed of officials from various U.S. departments and their Canadian and Mexican counterparts, tasked with enhancing the competitiveness and economic growth of the North American travel and tourism industry through collaboration and information exchange.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that the travel and tourism industry is a critical component of the U.S. economy, generating billions in exports and supporting millions of jobs. They contend that a dedicated working group under the USMCA will strengthen this vital sector across North America, fostering greater cooperation, increasing services exports, and ensuring resilience against future disruptions, thereby benefiting all three economies.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that establishing a new formal working group could introduce unnecessary bureaucracy and administrative overhead, potentially diverting resources from existing diplomatic and trade channels that could already address travel and tourism issues. They might also suggest that the benefits of such a group may not justify the time and effort required from multiple government agencies.
The bill is concise and clearly written, making it very accessible for any interested reader to understand its provisions quickly and thoroughly.
Section 4(a)
Directing USTR to Advocate for Working Group
This provision mandates the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to advocate for the creation of a Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group under the USMCA during the agreement's next joint review. This directive ensures that the USTR prioritizes the establishment of a formal mechanism for the United States, Canada, and Mexico to collaborate specifically on issues related to the travel and tourism industry.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a formal directive ensures the USTR prioritizes this important sector, leveraging the USMCA framework to foster economic growth and competitiveness in North American travel and tourism.
Critics contend
Critics might suggest that mandating specific negotiating objectives could limit the USTR's flexibility in broader trade discussions or that such a directive is not strictly necessary for the USTR to pursue this objective if deemed beneficial.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between providing clear congressional direction on a specific trade objective and maintaining the executive branch's flexibility in conducting international trade negotiations.
Section 4(b) and (c)
Composition and Stakeholder Input for the Working Group
This section outlines the structure of the proposed Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group, specifying it will be co-chaired by representatives from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. For the U.S. side, it mandates participation from various federal departments including USTR, Commerce, State, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, and Transportation. Furthermore, it requires the Working Group to seek input and advice from travel and tourism industry representatives, explicitly naming the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board for U.S. input.
Section 4(d) and (e)
Mandates and Schedule for the Working Group
This part of the bill defines the core responsibilities of the Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group. Its duties include enhancing the international competitiveness of the North American travel and tourism industry, increasing services exports, and fostering employment and economic growth. It also serves as a forum for information exchange, policy collaboration, and the development of initiatives among the three countries. The group is required to meet not less frequently than annually.