Canada’s minister responsible for trade with the United States said on Thursday that private discussions between the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States about the upcoming review of the USMCA were "not discouraging."
The minister made the remarks during a question-and-answer session held in Toronto, where officials and observers are watching developments as the three partners approach the scheduled review process. Canada is preparing to enter formal trade negotiations with the United States as part of that review, which must be completed ahead of the agreements renewal date of July 1, 2026.
In his comments, the minister emphasized that under the USMCA there have always been opportunities for bilateral arrangements between the three countries. He said he is not pessimistic about the potential for bilateral sectoral arrangements with the United States to emerge from the review process.
Those remarks reflect Ottawas posture as it moves from private, preparatory conversations toward a formal negotiation phase with its largest trading partner. The ministers characterization of the private talks as "not discouraging" signals a level of guarded optimism within the Canadian delegation while the timetable toward renewal remains in place.
Beyond restating that formal talks with the U.S. will begin as part of the review, the minister highlighted the precedent under the pact for sector-specific or bilateral approaches between partners. He stopped short of predicting any particular outcome, instead describing the prospect of future bilateral sectoral arrangements with the United States in cautiously positive terms.
As the three governments move forward, the ministers public remarks indicate Canadas intention to engage in the review process and to pursue negotiation channels that can address sectoral matters while working under the framework of the USMCA. The formal negotiations with the United States form a key part of the process leading to the renewal deadline of July 1, 2026.