March 5 (Reuters) - U.S. and Mexican negotiators will hold bilateral discussions starting the week of March 16 as part of the joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, the U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Thursday.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard have instructed negotiators to begin a scoping discussion on the measures to ensure the benefits of the trade agreement accrue primarily to the parties, including by reducing dependence on imports from outside the region, according to a statement from Greer's office.

Negotiators are expected to meet regularly as part of the joint review, according to the statement.