Canada called for the renewal of USMCA for another 16 years, ahead of a scheduled July review of the trade pact with the United States and Mexico.
In a Tuesday letter to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexico Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, Canada said the agreement benefited all three countries and the North American economy.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister for US trade, said Ottawa also received letters from Greer and Ebrard. Ebrard said Mexico also wanted a 16-year extension.
Meanwhile, LeBlanc and Canada’s top trade negotiator, Janice Charette, met Greer in Washington on Tuesday. LeBlanc said he offered proposals that addressed long-standing US concerns with Canada.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is set for review in July. The three countries can extend it for 16 years or leave it subject to annual reviews while it remains in place for 10 more years.
LeBlanc said the pact would continue even without consensus on a 16-year extension. However, he has warned that annual reviews could create uncertainty over the deal’s future.
The trade push came as US President Donald Trump again referred to Canada as a possible “51st State” in a social media post. US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra later reposted the message.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford rejected the remark on Tuesday. He said Canada would never become the 51st state and was not for sale.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa still had to work with the Trump administration because the United States remained Canada’s biggest trade and security partner.
Carney said the United States had about 30 trade irritants with Canada and nearly 60 with Mexico. Washington could withdraw from USMCA with six months’ notice.
