Canada, U.S. to launch formal talks to review USMCA in mid-January
Dominic LeBlanc will lead talks with Washington as Ottawa prepares for a 2026 renegotiation review, with tariff relief and policy issues on the agenda.
Canada and the United States will launch formal discussions in mid-January to review the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the office of Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday. Dominic LeBlanc, the country’s point person for U.S.-Canada trade relations, will meet with U.S. counterparts in January to begin the process, according to a statement from Carney's office.
Officials described the talks as the start of the mechanism set out under USMCA for an official review in 2026. The prime minister's office said the discussions will touch on a range of issues, including sectoral tariff relief in multiple areas such as steel and aluminum, as Ottawa presses to reduce tariff burdens that have affected several Canadian industries.
Trade between the two neighbors remains deeply integrated. Canada is among the most trade-dependent economies in the world, with more than 75% of its exports destined for the United States. Cross-border commerce runs at about CAD 3.6 billion per day, roughly US$2.7 billion. Canada supplies about 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and about 85% of U.S. electricity imports. It is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the United States, and it counts 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon views as strategic.
Amid tensions, U.S. officials have flagged concerns over Canadian dairy policies, alcohol and digital services, with the coming review hinging on how those issues are addressed. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described those topics as part of a broader, ongoing conversation about continental trade.
Carney stressed that access to Canada’s ministers is not guaranteed, calling it “a potential opportunity for the United States, but not an assured opportunity.” He said the talks should be viewed as part of a larger strategy, noting that Canada has other global partners, including Europe, showing interest in participating in trade arrangements.
Carney and the provincial premiers agreed to meet in Ottawa early next year to advance the discussions, underscoring the close economic ties and Ottawa's role in coordinating policy across the federation.