Prime Minister Mark Carney has acknowledged that the United States intends to continue imposing tariffs on specific sectors even after the renegotiation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade. Canada’s Trade Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, concluded a week of trade and tariff discussions in Washington with a commitment to ongoing dialogue.
Following a working visit to the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump, LeBlanc reported on social media that no agreement had been reached. Carney expressed uncertainty about the outcome of trilateral North American trade deals, emphasizing that discussions are ongoing and complex.
Carney stated that talks to update the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, known as CUSMA in Canada, are anticipated to commence next year. He highlighted that certain sectors such as steel, aluminum, autos, forest products, and pharmaceuticals are targeted by the U.S. with strategic trade actions.
Despite efforts to address sectoral tariffs, Carney emphasized that these tariffs are likely to persist even with a revised CUSMA. Trump mentioned that tariffs on Canadian goods, particularly agriculture exports like dairy products, would continue due to existing trade practices between the two countries.
The majority of Canadian trade with the U.S. is currently exempt from tariffs under CUSMA regulations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum commented that not all trade deal discussions need to be trilateral, but emphasized the legal status of CUSMA in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, suggesting any revisions would require a thorough review process.