Trade minister heads to Washington signalling optimism and alignment with Mexico
Canada’s trade minister is pushing back against suggestions that the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement will reopen the entire pact, saying the process is about renewal — not renegotiation.
Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, said he sees a clear path forward as he prepares to travel to Washington, D.C. next week for meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other American officials.
“Renewing. It doesn’t expire until 2036. But the review is not a renegotiation,” LeBlanc said during remarks at the Canadian Club in Toronto.
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, known as Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, replaced NAFTA and includes a formal review mechanism. LeBlanc stressed that the text of the agreement does not lay out a detailed roadmap for how the review must unfold, leaving room for a streamlined process if all parties are satisfied.
He suggested the talks could be straightforward, even light in tone, if there is broad consensus among Canada, the United States and Mexico.
LeBlanc cited two reasons for his cautious optimism: U.S. President Donald Trump maintained CUSMA exemptions when imposing recent global tariffs, and American business and political leaders are increasingly voicing support for the trade framework.
He described ongoing government-to-government discussions as businesslike and cordial, adding that Canada is ready for more specific proposals from Washington and Mexico City.
The minister also sought to reassure industry leaders that this process will not mirror the extensive, chapter-by-chapter renegotiations that followed Trump’s 2016 decision to scrap NAFTA. “It’s not 2016 again,” he said, emphasizing that the review does not automatically reopen every section of the agreement.
Under CUSMA’s terms, if no consensus emerges during the review, the agreement continues in force and transitions into annual reviews. LeBlanc acknowledged that uncertainty could be used as leverage by a partner but maintained that Canada is prepared to manage potential turbulence.
Speculation has circulated that the United States may prefer bilateral deals with Canada and Mexico rather than a trilateral framework. LeBlanc said separate bilateral arrangements could coexist alongside CUSMA, particularly to address sectoral tariffs affecting industries such as steel, aluminum and energy.
He noted that Canadian officials believed they were close to reaching a deal last fall to ease some of those tariff pressures and indicated that such arrangements remain possible.
On Mexico, LeBlanc expressed confidence that the two countries remain aligned. He said Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speak regularly and share a collaborative approach toward recommitting to the trilateral agreement.
Beyond trade talks, LeBlanc also addressed domestic economic priorities, including efforts to remove interprovincial trade barriers and accelerate major infrastructure projects. He said the federal Major Projects Office is close to designating projects of national interest, a move he believes could unlock private investment by cutting through regulatory delays.
While acknowledging public impatience over diversifying trade beyond the United States, LeBlanc said expanding global partnerships takes time. He noted that enthusiasm from international partners must translate into measurable economic growth.
As Canada prepares for formal CUSMA review discussions, the federal government’s message is one of stability: protect the existing framework, pursue targeted improvements and work with partners to limit disruption to North American trade.