As the July deadline to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico, known as the USMCA, approaches, Canada has formally requested its renewal.
In Tuesday’s notice of renewal, Canada-US trade minister Dominic LeBlanc proposed that the pact be extended for another 16 years, calling it “highly beneficial” to all three countries. It comes as LeBlanc is in Washington to meet with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Greer has completed the most recent round of official bilateral talks with Mexico, but negotiations with Canada have stalled, with the two countries appearing to disagree on sector-specific tariffs and vehicle production.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated publicly that he wants sector-specific levies on Canadian steel, aluminum, cars, and timber eliminated or reduced, while Greer has suggested that Canada may be forced to accept some kind of US tariffs.
Meanwhile, the United States has identified a number of trade irritants with Canada, including most Canadian provinces’ decision to remove American liquor from shelves in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. It also wants more access to Canadian markets for American businesses, particularly dairy, where Canada controls production quotas and imports to support local farmers.
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