Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to convene with the provincial leaders in Ottawa later this month, marking the commencement of a bustling year with the obligatory evaluation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) gaining momentum.
Sources privy to the plans, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Carney will convene the first ministers’ gathering on Jan. 29, preceded by a dinner the night before.
Over the past year, the prime minister and the premiers have been engaging in periodic discussions, often virtually, against the backdrop of the trade disputes instigated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The repercussions of Trump’s tariffs persistently impact Canadian sectors such as steel, aluminum, and auto industries, fostering economic uncertainties.
Anticipations are rife for an escalation in these dialogues this year as the CUSMA evaluation process accelerates.
The U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, has already outlined a set of prerequisites that the administration seeks to incorporate for extending the trading pact for an additional 16 years beyond its expiry in 2036. Greer highlighted certain trade concerns persisting within the U.S. administration, including Canada’s dairy quota system, online streaming regulations affecting tech giants like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube, and the ongoing resistance to U.S. alcohol in certain provinces.
Carney’s forthcoming meeting with the premiers coincides with the return of Parliament and follows his recent visit to China, focusing on discussions surrounding trade, energy, agriculture, and international security.