Prime Minister Mark Carney says U.S. President Donald Trump has not raised the possibility of abandoning the Canada United States Mexico Agreement during private discussions, despite public remarks from Washington suggesting all options remain open.
Carney met with Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in Washington earlier this month during events linked to the FIFA World Cup draw. The closed door meeting focused on the upcoming 2026 review of CUSMA, the continental trade pact signed during Trump’s first term.
In a year end interview airing Sunday on CBC’s Rosemary Barton Live, Carney said the conversation centered on process rather than threats.
“What we talked about, the two presidents and myself, we talked about the process for reviewing, renegotiating, CUSMA. We talked about potential timelines, although we didn’t settle on specific timelines for that,” Carney said.
Trade review plans take shape
Comments from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer have raised concern in recent weeks. Greer suggested Washington might pursue separate trade arrangements with Canada and Mexico, or even withdraw from the agreement.
“Could it be exited? Yeah, it could be exited. Could it be revised? Yes. Could it be renegotiated? Yes,” Greer said. “All of those things are on the table.”
In a report tabled before the U.S. Congress, Greer wrote that he “will keep the president’s options open, negotiating firmly to resolve the issues identified, but only recommending renewal if resolution can be achieved.”
Carney said such language did not reflect the tone of private talks with Trump.
“My discussions with the president, President Trump, as have been President Sheinbaum’s discussion with President Trump, has been there’ll be review and adjustment to CUSMA … not that there will be any leaving it entirely,” Carney told Barton.
Tariffs remain a key tension point
Despite CUSMA protections, the United States continues to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods. Steel and aluminum face duties of 50 per cent, lumber faces 10 per cent, and certain automotive exports and products such as kitchen cabinets face tariffs of 25 per cent.
Carney won April’s federal election after positioning himself as the strongest candidate to manage relations with Trump. Since taking office, the government has rolled back a proposed digital services tax and lifted several retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Sector specific tariff relief has yet to materialize.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has sharply criticized the government, accusing Carney of conceding ground without securing results. In an October letter, Poilievre wrote that tariffs now stand higher than during the election campaign.
Carney defended his approach, arguing Canada benefits from broader exemptions under CUSMA than most U.S. trading partners.
“The challenge remains that the United States has fundamentally changed its trading relationships with everybody in the world, Canada included,” Carney said. “Having the best deal is pretty good … it can be better. It’s in obviously Canada’s interest for it to be better.”
Trade talks on steel and aluminum stalled in October after Trump halted discussions following an Ontario government advertising campaign opposing tariffs. Canada U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said this week Washington remains welcome to resume talks, with deeper engagement expected during the formal CUSMA review.
