; (5) the United States, working closely with USMCA countries and other free trade agreement partners in the Western Hemisphere, should study the potential benefits of aligning rules of origin and allowing for cumulation in strategically selected sectors; and (6) unless expressly stated otherwise, no Americas partner country will be required to join the USMCA as a condition of accepting any benefits afforded to Americas partner countries under this Act. (b) Development of accession mechanism (1) In general The United States Trade Representative, in conducting the periodic review of the USMCA required to be conducted in 2026, may seek agreement with USMCA countries to develop a mechanism for accession of additional countries to the USMCA. (2) Treatment of textiles and apparel goods (A) Rules of origin For purposes of the accession to the USMCA pursuant to the mechanism developed under paragraph (1), the rules of origin under the USMCA for textile and apparel goods shall not go into effect or otherwise be applicable to textile and apparel goods of an Americas partner country that accedes to the USMCA during— (i) the 15-year period following formal accession of that country to the USMCA; and (ii) an additional 5-year period if determined appropriate pursuant to the study conducted under subparagraph (B). (B) Study on textile and apparel impact Not later than 12 years after the accession of an Americas partner country to the USMCA pursuant to the mechanism developed under paragraph (1), the United States International Trade Commission shall commission a study to analyze the negative and positive impacts of that accession on— (i) the textile and apparel sector of the country that joined the USMCA; (ii) the United States textile and apparel sector; (iii) the textile and apparel sectors of all countries that are Americas partner countries at the time when the study is commissioned