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50 SMT007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2026 TA R I F F T E R M I N A L S E R I ES BY JA M ES K I M , A R E N T F OX S C H I F F L L P USMCA Rules of Origin for Electronics What Could Change in 2026 In my first article on the USMCA, I explained why the USMCA six-year review matters to the electronics industry and where the negotiations currently stand. Now I want to get under the hood, because the most consequential changes for elec- tronics manufacturers are in the rules of origin, the technical framework that determines whether your product gets duty-free treatment under USMCA. Rules of Origin 101 Free trade agreements don't just lower tariffs; they also determine what counts as an "origi- nating" product. Without rules of origin, an importer could potentially route non-qualifying goods through an FTA country, change the label, and claim duty-free treatment. So, every FTA contains product-specific rules (PSRs) that define Editor's note: Tariff Terminal is a series exploring how trade policy, tariffs, and customs developments impact the electronics manufacturing industry. This is the second of a two-part look at the USMCA review.