Skip to main content
  • login
  • contact
  • language
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Português
    • Deutsch
    • Italia
    • 简体中文
    • 日本語
  • search
X
GEP Logo GEP Logo
  • Company
    • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Customers
    • Partners
    • AI-First at GEP
    • Sustainability at GEP
    • News
    • Events
    • Culture
    • Mission & Vision
    • Awards & Recognition
  • Solutions
    • Software
      • GEP SMART  
        • AI-First Source-to-Pay
        • Procurement Software
        • Product Accessibility
        • Direct Procurement Software
        • Indirect Procurement Software
        • Intelligent Category Management
        • Digital Procurement Transformation
        • Master Data Management
        • AP Automation
        • Spend Management
        • GEP COSTDRIVERS
      • Midsize & High Growth Enterprises  
      • GEP NEXXE  
        • AI-First Supply Chain Management
        • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution
        • Supply Chain Planning
        • Supply Chain Collaboration
        • Supply Chain Control Tower
        • Should-Cost Modeling
        • Inventory and Warehouse Management
        • Direct Material Sourcing
        • GEP Multienterprise Collaboration Network
      • GEP QUANTUM  
      • GEP GREEN  
      Strategy
      • Procurement Consulting  
        • Procurement Transformation
        • Digital Procurement Transformation
        • Opportunity Assessment
        • M & A Services
        • Strategic Cost Management
        • Supply Risk Management
      • Supply Chain Consulting  
        • Environmental, Social and Governance
        • Socially Responsible Sourcing
        • Supply Chain Strategy
        • Supply Chain Diagnostics
        • Inventory Optimization
        • Network Optimization
        • GEP Total Inventory Management Solution
      Managed Services
      • Procurement Outsourcing  
        • Source-to-Contract
          • Spend Analysis
          • Strategic Sourcing
          • Category Management
          • Supply Market Intelligence
          • Tail-Spend Management
          • Procurement Support Services
        • Procure-to-Pay
          • Cost Recovery & Invoice Auditing
          • Accounts Payable
      • Supply Chain Outsourcing  
        • Planning & Forecasting
        • Inventory Management
        • Logistics Management
        • Supply Chain Data Management
        • Supply Chain Risk Management
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Chemicals
    • Consumer Packaged Goods
    • Energy & Utilities
    • Financial Services
    • Government & Nonprofit
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Life Sciences
    • Oil & Gas
    • Private Equity
    • Retail
    • Telecommunications, Media & Technology
    • High-Tech
    • Media & Entertainment
    • Software, Social & Platforms
    • Telecom
    • Travel & Hospitality
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Explore by Topic
      • Artificial Intelligence  
      • Digital Transformation  
      • Software & Technology  
      • Strategy & Planning  
      • Operations  
      • Procurement  
      • Sustainability  
      • Inflation Strategies  
      Explore by Type
      • White Papers  
      • Research Reports  
      • Bulletin  
      • Case Studies  
      • Webcasts  
      • Blogs  
      • Podcasts  
      • Insights From the Top  
      • Glossary  
      Global Supply Chain Volatility Index

      Latest Insight

      Navigating shifts Read More  

      Rethinking Supply Chains for Greater Efficiency, Resiliency, and Sustainability Read More  

  • Careers
    • Join Us
    • GEP Per Se
    • Campus Connect
  • Partners
   
  • GEP Software ›
    • GEP Software
    • ‹ Back
      • GEP SMART ›
        • GEP SMART
        • ‹ Back
          • AI-First Source-to-Pay
          • Procurement Software
          • Direct Procurement Software ›
            • Direct Procurement Software
            • ‹ Back
              • Bill of Materials Management
              • Data Analytics & Reporting
              • Inventory Management
              • Master Data Management
              • Quality Management
              • Supplier Collaboration Portal
              • Supply Chain Operations
          • Indirect Procurement Software ›
            • Indirect Procurement Software
            • ‹ Back
              • Source-to-Contract
              • Spend Analysis
              • Savings Project Management
              • Category Management
              • Contract Management
              • Savings Tracking
              • Sourcing
              • Supplier Management
              • Procure-to-Pay
              • Guided Buying
              • Procurement Portal
              • Catalog Management
              • Order Processing
              • Invoice Management
          • Intelligent Category Management
          • Digital Procurement Transformation
          • Payments
          • Spend Management
          • Master Data Management
          • AP Automation
          • Product Accessibility
          • GEP COSTDRIVERS
          • Midsize & High Growth Enterprises
      • GEP NEXXE ›
        • GEP NEXXE
        • ‹ Back
          • AI-First Supply Chain Management
          • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution ›
            • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution
            • ‹ Back
              • Inventory and Warehouse Management
              • Logistics Visibility
              • Control Tower
          • Supply Chain Planning ›
            • Supply Chain Planning
            • ‹ Back
              • Supply Chain Control Tower
              • Should-Cost Modeling
              • Demand Planning
              • Supply Chain Bill of Materials
              • Supply Chain Direct Sourcing
              • Supply Planning
          • Supply Chain Collaboration ›
            • Supply Chain Collaboration
            • ‹ Back
              • Forecast Collaboration
              • Purchase Order Collaboration
              • Quality Collaboration
              • Capacity Collaboration
              • Quality Management Software
          • Supply Chain Control Tower
          • Should-Cost Modeling
          • Inventory and Warehouse Management
          • GEP Multienterprise Collaboration Network
      • GEP QUANTUM ›
        • GEP QUANTUM
        • ‹ Back
          • AI, ML & Automated Technology
          • AI-Powered Data Analytics
          • Cloud Integration
          • Low-Code Application Development
      • GEP GREEN
      • Innovation ›
        • Innovation
        • ‹ Back
          • Emerging Technologies
          • Native to Cloud
          • Native to Mobile
          • One Unified Platform
          • Security
          • User-Centric Design
  • GEP Strategy ›
    • GEP Strategy
    • ‹ Back
      • Procurement Consulting ›
        • Procurement Consulting
        • ‹ Back
          • Procurement Transformation ›
            • Procurement Transformation
            • ‹ Back
              • Procurement Strategy
              • Org. Design & Implementation
              • Capability Building
              • Change Management
              • Governance & Performance
              • Processes & Policies
              • S2P Operations
              • Sourcing & Category Management
              • Technology
          • Digital Procurement Transformation
          • Opportunity Assessment
          • M&A Services ›
            • M&A Services
            • ‹ Back
              • M&A Clean Room
          • Strategic Cost Management ›
            • Strategic Cost Management
            • ‹ Back
              • Zero-Based Budgeting
          • Supply Chain Risk Management
      • Supply Chain Consulting ›
        • Supply Chain Consulting
        • ‹ Back
          • SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE
          • Environmental, Social and Governance
          • Socially Responsible Sourcing
          • Scope 3
          • PLAN
          • Digital Planning, S&OP, S&OE
          • Collaborative Planning
          • PROCURE
          • Source To Contract
          • Procure To Pay
          • MAKE
          • Inventory Strategy & Management
          • Operations & Manufacturing Excellence
          • GEP Total Inventory Management Solution
          • DELIVER
          • Network Strategy & Optimization
          • Warehousing & Transportation Management
  • GEP Managed Services ›
    • GEP Managed Services
    • ‹ Back
      • Procurement Outsourcing ›
        • Procurement Outsourcing
        • ‹ Back
          • Source-to-Contract
          • Spend Analysis
          • Strategic Sourcing ›
            • Strategic Sourcing
            • ‹ Back
              • MRO
              • CAPEX
              • Logistics
              • Packaging
              • IT & Telecom
              • Energy
              • Direct Materials
          • Category Management ›
            • Category Management
            • ‹ Back
              • Contract Management
              • Supplier Performance Management
              • Savings & Compliance Tracking
          • Supply Market Intelligence
          • Tail-Spend Management
          • Procurement Support Services ›
            • Procurement Support Services
            • ‹ Back
              • eSourcing
              • Supplier Performance Management
              • Savings & Compliance Tracking
              • Sourcing Support
          • Procure-to-Pay
          • Cost Recovery & Invoice Auditing
          • Accounts Payable
      • Supply Chain Outsourcing ›
        • Supply Chain Outsourcing
        • ‹ Back
          • Planning & Forecasting
          • Inventory Management
          • Logistics Management
          • Supply Chain Data Management
          • Supply Risk Management
  • Industries ›
    • Industries
    • ‹ Back
      • Automotive
      • Chemicals
      • Consumer Packaged Goods
      • Energy & Utilities
      • Financial Services
      • Government & Nonprofit
      • Industrial Manufacturing
      • Life Sciences
      • Oil & Gas
      • Private Equity
      • Retail
      • Telecommunications, Media & Technology
      • High-Tech
      • Media & Entertainment
      • Software, Social & Platforms
      • Telecom
      • Travel & Hospitality
  • Knowledge Bank ›
    • Knowledge Bank
    • ‹ Back
      • Explore by Topic ›
        • Explore by Topic
        • ‹ Back
          • Artificial Intelligence
          • Digital Transformation
          • Operations
          • Procurement
          • Software & Technology
          • Strategy & Planning
          • Sustainability
          • Inflation Strategies
      • Explore by Type ›
        • Explore by Type
        • ‹ Back
          • Insights From the Top
          • White Papers
          • Research Reports
          • Bulletins
          • Case Studies
          • Webcasts
          • Blogs
          • Podcasts
          • Glossary
      • Global Supply Chain Volatility Index
  • Company ›
    • Company
    • ‹ Back
      • About Us
      • Leadership
      • Customers
      • Partners
      • AI-First at GEP
      • Sustainability at GEP
      • News
      • Events
      • Culture ›
        • Culture
        • ‹ Back
          • GEP Core Values
          • Women@GEP
          • Diversity
          • GEP Cares
      • Mission & Vision
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Contact Us
  • Global Presence ›
    • Global Presence
    • ‹ Back
      • Americas ›
        • Americas
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • Español
          • Portugués
      • Europe ›
        • Europe
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • Deutsch
      • Asia-Pacific ›
        • Asia-Pacific
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • 中文
      • Middle East ›
        • Middle East
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • العربية
  • Contact Us
  • Careers ›
    • Careers
    • ‹ Back
      • GEP Per Se
      • Campus Connect
  • Language ›
    • Language
    • ‹ Back
      • English
      • Français
      • Español
      • Deutsch
      • Italia
      • Português
      • 简体中文
      • 日本語
  • BLOGS
  • Strategy
  • Technology
  • MIND
Contact Us
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Breadcrumb

  1. HOME
  2. BLOG
  3. STRATEGY
  4. SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY USMCA
Blog Image

NAFTA to USMCA: 3 Strategies for Automakers to Adapt to the New Rules

  • North America’s automotive industry needs to shift gears in its sourcing strategy to comply with USMCA rules
  • These strategies can range from roll up and tariff shift to finding an alternative staging regime
  • Automotive OEMs can partner with a supply chain solutions provider to develop new suppliers

March 17, 2022 | Sourcing Strategy

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement or USMCA has reset many trade and sourcing rules for automotive manufacturers who were tuned to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for nearly 25 years.

From 1994 to 2020 (when NAFTA was replaced with USMCA), most original equipment manufacturers (OEM) in the automotive sector knew the rules, the exceptions, and where and when to apply them.

The situation is different now.

Automotive companies have been forced to shift gears in their sourcing strategy to comply with four mandatory rules. It is crucial for OEMs to comply with each regulation. Failure to fulfill even one rule will mean not complying with the entire USMCA and could result in significant fines and tariffs.

What are these new four rules and how have these impacted automakers?

USMCA rules impacting automakers

Regional Value Content

OEMs must buy and/or produce at least 75% of the total value of a vehicle in the North American region. The parts are classified as “Core, Principal, Complementary, Rest/Others”. In NAFTA, the share of local parts was 62.5%.

Steel & Aluminum

70% of the materials must be bought in North America. This has forced many companies to change their raw material supply locations from other parts of the world (principally Asia) to North America. In NAFTA, this rule did not exist.

40% Labor Value Content

This means at least 40% of the total value of an automobile produced in North America must be bought and/or produced in high-salary plants in the region with a salary of at least $16 per hour. That rule creates a huge disadvantage for Mexico since companies there are not able to pay those salaries to any of their blue-collar workers. Canada has a few high-salary plants and the rest are in the U.S.

75% Core Parts

Special important components from a car are designed as Core Parts (engine, transmission, body and chassis, axle, suspension system, steering system, and advanced battery). Each one of these is made of enumerated components. The rule indicates that the weighted regional value content from these parts must be at least 75%.

3 steps for automakers to comply with the new rules

In this changed sourcing and manufacturing scenario, what strategies can OEMs deploy to fulfill these new requirements from USMCA without completely resetting their current processes? Here are three ways:

1. Roll up

Unless the specific origin rule for a part indicates otherwise, when it reaches the minimum required regional value content or RVC (broken down below), the part will “suffer” a roll up and will automatically be considered as 100% regional and comply with the USMCA.
Principal ≥ 70%
Complementary ≥ 65%
Others/Rest ≥ 60% (specific for each part but that is an average)

2. Tariff shift

Due to globalization, it is normal for OEMs to acquire raw materials from different parts of the world, especially when the prices are competitive. This is common in the automotive industry. Examples include the buying of natural rubber and aluminum.

A special section in the USMCA “allows” certain raw materials to continue to be brought from outside the North American region and still be considered as “regional” with the condition that the transformation thesematerialsl go through in North America is large enough.

For example, when an OEM brings a piece of wood from China to the U.S. and transforms this wood into a closet, it is nowhere neao what it was when it entered North America. So that makes it automatically regional. The same goes with tires. Natural rubber can still be brought from Asia and when an OEM applies a manufacturing process to it, the nature of the rubber changes to the point that it will be considered regional.

For some automotive parts like hoses, it is even easier. In many cases, the hoses can be brought in cable reels (outside North America) and when these are cut, crimped, or thermoformed, these become regional. This is because once that process is done, the parts can only be used for the automotive industry.

For each specific case, when a company is producing and or buying parts outside North America, it should conduct an analysis with the proper customs department to evaluate this option.

3. Alternative staging regime

The USMCA has a special period for OEMs to prepare themselves for transition to the new rules. This means that since 2020, the U.S. government requires companies to fulfill the agreement in a certain percentage, starting nearly to 65% for some categories until they reach 100% no later than January 1, 2025.

Why the automotive industry needs a supply chain strategy partner for USMCA?

Support for OEMs

OEMs that do not fulfill the requirements face heavy fines when they want to export cars to the U.S. (nearly 2.5% of total car value in taxes). OEMs can partner with a procurement and supply chain solutions provider to analyze which cases can fulfill the treaty with tariff shift or roll up (where necessary), or to assist in transformations such as opening plants/divisions where necessary in the NAR for them to fulfill the treaty.

For example, in accordance with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), German carmaker Volkswagen is working on developing and establishing a special battery plant in the U.S. which will give them a certain percentage from the required LVC. Many OEMs should take measures like these to fulfill the trade norms.

Support for suppliers

Since many suppliers have production outside North America, they are left out of sourcing or do not get nominations because they are currently “not fulfilling” USMCA requirements. The supply chain solutions provider can offer custom services and analyze for which specific cases they are able to fulfill the USTR requirements independently if they are in North America or elsewhere (with the support of tariff shift and roll up). In cases where they are not able to fulfill USMCA rules because of overseas production or raw material sourced from overseas, they will need analyses to bring their production or raw materials where convenient to North America. The strategy could include developing new raw material suppliers in the region or new plants for these manufacturing suppliers.

Learn more about how GEP can help automakers and their suppliers comply with USMCA rules.

Author: Giovanni Mures

Turn ideas into action. Talk to GEP.

GEP helps enterprise procurement and supply chain teams at hundreds of Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies rapidly achieve more efficient, more effective operations, with greater reach, improved performance, and increased impact. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today.

Krish Vengat N.
Vice President, Consulting

Krish is a seasoned procurement and supply chain management professional proficient at delivering sustainable cost savings and process improvements across industries. He has been a part of multiple procurement transformation initiatives and secured around a billion dollars of savings in direct- and indirect-related spend and supply chain operations. His clients at GEP include Fortune 500 companies, primarily in CPG, automotive, and industrial manufacturing.

LET'S TALK

 

Tags: sourcing

Add Comment +

FEATURED POST

...
Inventory Management Software

Achieving Supply Chain Resilience With Total Inventory Management Solution

...
Supply Chain Strategy

Sodium-ion vs. Lithium-ion Battery: Which is a Better Alternative?

...
Supply Chain Strategy

3 Best Practices to Tackle Inflation in Supply Chain Network Design

    BLOG CATEGORIES

  • Supply Chain Strategy
  • Procurement Strategy
  • Sourcing Strategy
  • Risk Management
  • Miscellaneous
  • Supplier Management Strategy
  • M&A
  • Cost Management
  • Supply Chain Risk Management
  • Inventory Management
  • Digital Supply Chain Transformation

TAGS

sustainability
Procurement Software
supply chain strategy
Inflation
Russia-Ukraine War

By checking the box below, you consent to GEP using your personal information to send you thought leadership content – such as white papers, research reports, case studies – and other communications. GEP representatives may contact you to provide additional information or answer questions.

If at any point in time you decide to withdraw your consent, you may unsubscribe by emailing your request to us at privacy@gep.com.

Please refer to the GEP Privacy Statement to understand how we manage and protect your personal information.

Terms of Use | Privacy Statement

Contact Us

Ask Us

Send us your question(s)

RFP

Request for a business proposal

Feedback

Share your thoughts, comments and suggestions

Demo

Schedule a live demo of our software

Discover
STRATEGY
Strategy
  •   Procurement Consulting
  •   Digital Procurement Transformation
  •   Strategic Cost Management
  •   Opportunity Assessment
  •   Supply Chain Risk Management
  •   Supply Chain Consulting
  •   Supply Chain Strategy
  •   Supply Chain Diagnostics
  •   Inventory Optimization
  •   Procurement Transformation
  •   Sustainability and ESG Consulting
SOFTWARE
Software
  •   Procurement Software
  •   Supply Chain Software
  •   Source-to-Contract
  •   Procure-to-Pay
  •   Supply Chain Planning
  •   Supply Chain Collaboration
  •   Supply Chain Visibility & Execution
  •   Supply Chain Control Tower
  •   Should-Cost Modeling
  •   Inventory & Warehouse Management Software
  •   Source-To-Pay Software
  •   Midsize & High Growth Enterprises
MANAGED SERVICES
Managed Services
  •   Procurement Outsourcing
  •   Strategic Sourcing
  •   Tail-Spend Management
  •   Category Management
  •   Procurement Support Services
  •   Supply Chain Outsourcing
  •   Supply Chain Planning & Forecasting
  •   Inventory Management
  •   Logistics Management
COMPANY
Company
  •   About Us
  •   Leadership
  •   Customers
  •   Sustainability at GEP
  •   Careers
  •   News
  •   Awards
  •   Partners
  •   Contact Us

Fresh Insights, Now on Your Phone

  • GoGEP app on Apple App Store
  • GoGEP app on Google Play Store
Stay Connected
  •  
  •  
  •  

Latest Tweets

© Copyright GEP 2023. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Cookie Policy |   | Quality Policy | GEP Logo