CUSMA Renewal Talks
Canada Formally Seeks 16-Year CUSMA Renewal as US Pushes for Major Changes
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Canada has formally notified the United States and Mexico that it wants the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (CUSMA) renewed for another 16 years, rather than shifting to an annual review process. In letters to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexico’s economy secretary, Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the deal is highly beneficial to the integrated North American economy and that Canada is recommending renewal ahead of a July 1 deadline. LeBlanc is traveling to Washington for talks with Greer as the U.S. and Mexico move forward with bilateral negotiations, while Canada says it has not been included in formal negotiations yet. Prime Minister Mark Carney characterized the U.S. talks as “bifurcated,” citing dozens of issues the U.S. has raised with Canada and Mexico separately, and noted Canada is seeking clarity on whether the agreement will be renewed or substantially changed. The Trump administration has signaled it wants significant modifications to CUSMA, including in areas such as autos and dairy market access, and Canada also says discussions on sectoral tariffs will be essential.
Key Points
1
Canada’s delegation traveling to Washington includes not only Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc but also Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
2
Prime Minister Mark Carney provided specific numbers on the separate U.S. concerns, saying Washington has raised “30 issues or so” with Canada and almost 60 with Mexico.
3
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said he’d be open to “two separate bilateral agreements,” while also noting that parts of CUSMA “work very well.”
4
Canada said it has not yet started formal trilateral/Canada-U.S. talks, but the U.S. and Mexico have already begun their negotiations—after completing their first round of bilateral talks last week.
5
Trump has publicly criticized CUSMA as “irrelevant” and said it “may have served its purpose,” framing the U.S. position for significant changes rather than a straightforward renewal.
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