Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday the selection of Janice Charette as the country’s next chief trade negotiator to the United States.
According to the prime minister’s office, Charette will take on a senior advisory role to both the prime minister and to Dominic LeBlanc, who is the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, as they prepare for the upcoming joint review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
CUSMA, also referred to as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, is described in the statement as a continental trade pact that has shielded much of Canada’s exports from U.S. tariffs. The agreement is slated for a joint review with a July 1 deadline.
The statement noted the significance of the U.S. market to Canada’s trade flows, observing that about 70% of Canadian exports are directed to the United States.
Carney was quoted in the announcement highlighting Charette’s long public service career and her suitability for the role. "With four decades of experience in public policy and diplomacy, Janice Charette brings extraordinary leadership, expertise, and a deep commitment to advancing Canada’s interests," Carney said. "As Chief Trade Negotiator, she will advance Canadian interests and a strengthened trade and investment relationship that benefits workers and industries in both Canada and the United States."
Charette’s public record, as summarized in the prime minister’s office release, includes two terms as clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet. The clerk of the Privy Council serves as the head of the civil service in Canada.
This appointment positions a senior, experienced public servant at the center of the federal government's preparations for the upcoming CUSMA review, with the review process and the July 1 timeline highlighted as immediate priorities in the statement from the prime minister’s office.