Trade talks between Canada and the United States move slowly ahead of the “CUSMA” agreement review

Ottawa —
Trade talks between Canada and the United States have begun to show limited signs of movement, as an important deadline approaches for the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Free Trade Agreement “CUSMA.”

Canadian Minister responsible for trade with the United States, Dominic LeBlanc, said he will head to Washington next week to hold talks with U.S. officials.

The visit comes ahead of the first joint review of the “CUSMA” agreement, scheduled for July 1, a milestone that could be decisive for the future of trade relations between the three countries.

Despite the importance of the date, LeBlanc has held only one day of direct talks over the past seven months with U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer, reflecting the slow progress on the file.

Canada is facing increasing pressure due to the trade policies of President Donald Trump’s administration, including tariffs and repeated threats to reconsider trade terms with Ottawa and Mexico.

The “CUSMA” agreement is essential to the Canadian economy, as it regulates a large part of cross-border trade, especially in the automotive, agriculture, energy, and manufacturing sectors.

Ottawa seeks to protect stable access to the U.S. market, while also working to diversify its trade and reduce overreliance on the United States.

Washington talks are expected to focus on outstanding issues before the official review, and on trying to prevent them from turning into a broader trade confrontation that could affect supply chains, jobs, and investment in Canada.