We have expressed our disappointment to that effect. We think we have to build from here on the basis provided by the USMCA global agreement and its protocol. We are asking the Canadian government to ensure, first of all, that Mexico sets in place a robust import control monitoring system, as Canada has provided as of September 1 of last year. Basically of the three countries that have agreed in their May 17 joint statement with the United States to set up such a monitoring system, only Canada has delivered the goods. I certainly salute Madam Freeland under her former responsibility and her department, which was able to come up with such a system within two months prior to the election.
Canada is the only country right now that has a system like this. We have asked the Canadian government to export that expertise to the U.S. and Mexico. We understand that in the budget announced by the White House a few days ago, somewhere hidden in the thousands and thousands of pages, is a line item to provide funding for setting up such a system within the commerce department. The U.S. is engaged with Canada to get Mexico to follow suit. That's one part of the equation.
The other part of the equation is the need to have a joint approach to monitoring the transit of metal. When you look at CUSMA, you look at a trading space where Canada is the only significant primary metal producer. The U.S. is the big market, not only for North America but for the whole world. Everybody is shipping to the U.S. because it's the highest net back. It's the highest price paid for aluminum in the world. The pressure is very strong to access this market, and as much as possible, to access it through either Canada or Mexico, which are duty free.
Mexico is the easy way in. Why? Because they're a buyer. They buy scrap from the U.S. and they buy billet from whatever the world wants to offer at the lowest price possible. They have been known—and it is documented—to let metal come in that has been rejected in the U.S., such as wheels most likely, that have been under a section 301 measure in the U.S. The same wheels have found their way into the continent through Mexico. We're talking about big numbers here.
We want administrations to ensure that no illegally traded metal finds its way in. We don't mind about competition on a level playing field. We do mind about illegal competition.