Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to announce the formation of a new advisory council focused on Canada and U.S. trade, as revealed by sources familiar with the matter. This council will replace the previous advisory group established by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in early 2025. The sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, have not been named by CBC News.
The composition of the upcoming advisory council remains undisclosed, with uncertainties surrounding Carney’s selection for this council. Trudeau had previously assembled a similar advisory committee during the negotiations that led to the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) under the tenure of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The CUSMA is scheduled for a review this year.
In related developments, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently held discussions with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. According to a joint statement issued by Greer’s office, the U.S. and Mexico are planning to conduct an “official bilateral negotiating round” later in May.
When questioned about the official commencement of negotiations, a spokesperson for Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc refrained from providing a specific timeline but mentioned that officials are continuously engaging with their U.S. counterparts. The spokesperson emphasized Canada’s readiness to swiftly reach a deal by submitting various proposals to the Americans and asserted that Canada will not be a cause of any delays.
Greer previously suggested the possibility of breaking down the CUSMA into separate bilateral agreements with Canada and Mexico to streamline the negotiation process.
Prime Minister Carney expressed concerns over the weakening ties between Canada and the U.S. in a video released on Sunday. He highlighted the challenges faced by workers in Canada’s auto, steel, and lumber sectors due to tariffs imposed by the U.S. Carney stressed the need to address these weaknesses promptly and pledged to provide regular updates on Canada’s efforts to diversify its trade relationships.
The video message by Carney aimed to directly communicate with Canadians about the threats posed to the country and underscored the importance of correcting the vulnerabilities in Canada’s trade relationships with the U.S.