Analysts at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas warned that strict compliance with USMCA export rules helped mitigate the expected inflationary impact of tariffs imposed by the United States. ^[1] Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found that job postings in AI-exposed fields in Texas fell by 8 percent in early 2025 compared to less exposed jobs, a decline that began after ChatGPT's release. ^[2] In 2024, 50% of Mexican exports entered the United States under USMCA coverage, a proportion that rose to over 85% in sectors such as computers and computing equipment. ^[3] The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas analysts estimated that the increased use of USMCA preferences reduced the effective tariff burden by approximately one percentage point in the fourth quarter of 2025. ^[4] A Reuters analysis found that power grid connection requests from data centers and large users in Texas grew from about 48 gigawatts in 2023 to more than 474 gigawatts, one of the fastest growth rates in the U.S. ^[5] Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a freeze on new data center connections in 2026, reversing his earlier embrace of AI infrastructure amid public backlash and midterm election pressures. ^[6] Durable goods present an import exposure of around 30% once imported inputs are included, compared to 5% for services. ^[7]