Chair alleges Cuban 'doctors' program amounts to forced labor; State says it is raising the issue with Mexico and USTR

WASHINGTON — Chair Maria Salazar told the House subcommittee that Mexico’s agreements to receive Cuban medical personnel raise forced‑labor concerns and could violate trade commitments, and she urged the administration to pursue remedies in the USMCA review.

Salazar asserted that Mexico had “accepted more than 3,000 Cuban doctors in exchange for over $100,000,000 paid directly to the Cuban regime” and said the Cuban program pays doctors only a small fraction of promised earnings. “That is pure and simple slavery,” she said, arguing the arrangement undercuts labor and human‑rights norms and merited scrutiny under USMCA forced‑labor provisions.

Katherine Duholme, speaking for the State Department, agreed the program raises serious concerns and said the department is pushing a global effort to urge countries to “step out of this program.” She said she raised the issue in Mexico during recent meetings and that the State Department will continue to press Mexico at “all levels” while deferring trade‑specific enforcement questions to the U.S. Trade Representative.

Members requested that the USMCA review include a strong message on forced labor and asked whether trade tools could be used to press partner governments. Duholme said that USTR is the appropriate office to address treaty compliance while State will maintain diplomatic pressure.

The committee did not make findings; members asked witnesses to provide further documentation for the record and to coordinate with USTR and other agencies on any trade or human‑rights enforcement measures.