The United States has requested that Mexico review potential violations of workers' rights at the Mondelez Mexico facility in Puebla. This action, under the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), aims to determine if employees are being denied freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The U.S. has halted the liquidation of goods from this facility, which produces confectionery, beverages, and other food products.
The Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC), co-chaired by the Secretary of Labor and the United States Trade Representative, received a petition on November 12, 2025, from Union General de Mexico (UGM). The petition claims that Mondelez and its current union have obstructed union activities and retaliated against workers attempting to form an independent union through various means such as threats and discriminatory practices.
After reviewing the petition within 30 days, the ILC found credible evidence supporting these allegations. Consequently, a request was made to Mexico to investigate whether workers' rights are being infringed upon at Mondelez. Mexico is required to respond within 10 days regarding their agreement to conduct a review and must complete it within 45 days if they agree.
The RRM was developed during the first Trump administration as a tool to ensure fair competition by preventing labor law violations in Mexican businesses. More information about this process can be accessed through various links provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
