Canada and the United States are set to begin formal talks to review their free trade agreement in mid-January, according to the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Carney informed provincial leaders that Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s lead official on U.S. trade relations, “will meet with U.S. counterparts in mid-January to initiate formal discussions,” the Prime Minister’s office said Thursday.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), negotiated by U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term, is scheduled for review in 2026, under a clause allowing potential renegotiation.

Canada, heavily reliant on trade, exports more than 75% of its goods to the United States, although many exports currently benefit from USMCA exemptions. Tensions in trade talks arose in October after Ontario ran an anti-tariff ad in the U.S., prompting Trump to suspend certain discussions.

Carney said Canada and the U.S. were close to agreeing on sectoral tariff relief covering steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber. He noted that U.S. concerns over Canadian dairy, alcohol, and digital services will be part of broader continental trade discussions.

The Prime Minister and provincial leaders plan to meet in Ottawa early next year to further address trade issues.

Source: UNB

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