Canada Respects USMCA Commitments, Carney Says

Canada respects its commitments and engagements under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) not to pursue free trade agreements with non-market economies, Prime Minister Mark Carney said from Ottawa, Divya Rajagopal reported for Reuters.

Carney said Canada was “going back to the future” with respect to electric vehicles, agriculture and fish products, with additional protections.

Carney was responding to US President Donald Trump’s threat that the US would impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it struck a trade deal with China.

Carney said Canada has no intention of doing so with China or any other non-market economy, but noted that Ottawa has worked to rectify issues that developed over the past couple of years.

Carney said Canada was “going back to the future” with respect to electric vehicles, agriculture and fish products, with additional protections. He visited China earlier this month in an effort to diversify trade and resolve tariff issues with the country, Canada’s third-largest trading partner.