Canada Seeks USMCA Trade Agreement Renewal

Canada has formally requested a renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ahead of upcoming renegotiation deadlines, Nadine Yousif reported for BBC News.

The USMCA, known as CUSMA in Canada, replaced NAFTA in 2020.

Canadian trade minister Dominic LeBlanc said the country supports extending the agreement for another 16 years, calling it “highly beneficial” for all three nations. He made the remarks during discussions in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The USMCA, known as CUSMA in Canada, replaced NAFTA in 2020. It governs trade relations among the three North American economies and includes provisions for periodic review.

LeBlanc emphasized that Canada remains open to improvements, particularly regarding sector-specific tariffs affecting steel, aluminum, automobiles, and lumber.

Negotiations between the three countries have continued intermittently amid broader trade tensions.