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Canada Pushes for 16‑Year USMCA Renewal as U.S. Seeks Rule Changes and New Tariffs

Ottawa is asking to lock in long-term certainty for North American trade as U.S. pressure on rules and fresh tariff tools increase the stakes before the July 1 review

President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, May 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
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Minister of Internal Trade, President of the Kings Privy Council for Canada, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc is scheduled to meet Tuesday in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Overview

  • Canada formally recommended a 16‑year renewal of the USMCA in a letter dated June 1 and sent Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and chief negotiator Janice Charette to Washington for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
  • The United States opened bilateral review talks with Mexico first and has said it wants substantive changes to the pact, including stricter automotive rules of origin and greater market access for U.S. businesses.
  • Ottawa told Washington and Mexico that negotiating Mr. Trump’s sectoral tariffs on autos, steel, aluminum and lumber must proceed in parallel with the treaty review because those measures directly affect Canadian exporters.
  • The U.S. Trade Representative released a Section 301 proposal that would add forced‑labour tariffs and listed Canada as subject to a possible 10 percent duty, creating new pressure on Ottawa ahead of the July 1 decision point.
  • If the three partners do not agree to a 16‑year extension by July 1, the pact moves to annual reviews that could continue until 2036, a path that would prolong uncertainty for manufacturers, farmers and supply chains across North America.