Dominic LeBlanc announces that consultations on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) will begin this Friday, ahead of a planned review of the North American trade pact next year. The Canadian trade minister stated that Ottawa will engage with provinces, territories, industry representatives, and workers in preparation for formal negotiations with the United States and Mexico scheduled for 2026.

An exemption for CUSMA-compliant goods has so far shielded much of Canada’s trade from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war. However, sectoral duties remain in effect in industries such as steel, aluminum, automotive, and softwood lumber.

LeBlanc noted that while Ottawa would be open to signing a broader deal with the U.S. should Washington propose terms beneficial to Canada, his immediate priority is addressing the existing sectoral tariffs.

Meanwhile, Carney and Sheinbaum emphasized that the upcoming trade agreement will complement CUSMA, strengthening cooperation among the three countries.

*With files from Craig Lord in Ottawa*
https://globalnews.ca/news/11436583/canada-launching-cusma-review-consultation/