Dominic LeBlanc says consultations begin Friday on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) forward of a deliberate evaluation of the North American commerce pact subsequent 12 months.
The Canada-U.S. commerce minister says Ottawa will hear from provinces, territories, business and staff because it gears as much as negotiate formally with the United States and Mexico in 2026.
An exemption for CUSMA-compliant items has to date shielded a lot of Canada’s commerce from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff conflict, though sectoral duties nonetheless exist within the metal, aluminum, automotive and softwood lumber industries.
LeBlanc says that whereas Ottawa would signal a “greater deal” with the U.S. if Washington provided one thing in Canada’s pursuits, his short-term focus is on addressing the sectoral tariffs.
LeBlanc is in Mexico City capping off a two-day journey with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who introduced a brand new financial and safety settlement yesterday with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
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Carney and Sheinbaum emphasised that the brand new deal will “complement” CUSMA.
— with information from Craig Lord in Ottawadigit
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