Canada proposes 16-year renewal of US-Mexico free trade agreement
14 reported
Canada has called on the United States and Mexico to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for another 16 years, according to a letter sent Tuesday by Canada’s minister for U.S. trade, Dominic LeBlanc. The letter was addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, and LeBlanc stated that the agreement is highly beneficial to each country and the integrated North American economy. LeBlanc said Canada also received letters from Greer and Ebrard, and Ebrard stated Tuesday that Mexico would also like the agreement extended to 16 years. The letters come ahead of a scheduled July review of the USMCA, which can either be subject to annual reviews or renewed for 16 years. LeBlanc and Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette were in Washington on Tuesday for a meeting with Greer, where LeBlanc presented proposals responding to issues the U.S. has raised with Canada. The development coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump reviving talk of making Canada the 51st state, a position that has drawn pushback from Canadian politicians.
What’s reported
Canada called on the U.S. and Mexico to renew the USMCA for another 16 years.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister for U.S. trade, sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.
LeBlanc wrote that the agreement is “highly beneficial to each of our countries and to the integrated North American economy.”
LeBlanc said Canada also received letters from Greer and Ebrard; Ebrard said Tuesday that Mexico would also like the extension to 16 years.
The letters come ahead of a scheduled July review of the USMCA.
The agreement can either be subject to annual reviews or renewed for 16 years.
LeBlanc and Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette were in Washington on Tuesday for a meeting with Greer.
LeBlanc said if there is no consensus to extend for 16 years by July 1, the agreement remains in place for 10 more years with annual reviews.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Canada would be better off as a U.S. state; on Monday he posted “51st State!” on social media linking to a news article about Canada falling into a technical recession.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday: “Canada will never be the 51st state. Canada is not for sale.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that Ambassador Hoekstra should not leave the country, adding “It’s an administration that we have to work with.”
Carney said the U.S. has about 30 different trade irritants with Canada compared to nearly 60 with Mexico.
The U.S. could withdraw from the agreement with six months notice.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Trump has tried to destroy the relationship with Canada with “chaotic tariffs and mindless cruelty.”
Key figures
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister for U.S. trade
Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative
Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s Economy Secretary
Janice Charette, Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator
Donald Trump, U.S. President
Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to Canada
Doug Ford, Ontario Premier
Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister
JB Pritzker, Illinois Governor
Sources: abcnews.com
