Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he remains hopeful that the two countries can reach a deal around tariffs prior to the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) in 2026, but said he will not give a timeline for when he expects one could be made.
“I have lost the illusion that we should predict a precise time when we might get to an agreement … My view is an agreement is something that would improve the circumstances that we’re in today. I continue to be optimistic,” LeBlanc told MPs on the International Trade Committee on Oct. 2.
LeBlanc told the committee that the Canadian government has launched its second round of consultations with stakeholders across the country regarding USMCA. He said Ottawa is also collaborating with the United States to find a way to decrease tariffs and “promote a North American collective approach to face the challenges we both face.”…