Canada and Mexico push for 16-year renewal of USMCA free trade deal
Canada and Mexico have jointly called for a 16-year renewal of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA), the North American free trade pact that replaced NAFTA. The request comes as US President Donald Trump, who signed and praised the deal during his first term, now calls it 'irrelevant'. The agreement is critical for Canada and Mexico, with the US absorbing 75% of Canadian exports and 80% of Mexican exports. In a letter to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexico's Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, Canada's minister for Canada-US trade Dominic LeBlanc recommended the renewal. LeBlanc traveled to Washington for talks and described Tuesday's meeting as 'positive', with discussions to continue in the coming days and weeks. Mexico's Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard echoed the call for a 16-year extension at a press conference in Mexico City. The push for renewal aims to bind the three countries to a pact that Trump has openly questioned.
Key facts
- Canada and Mexico called for a 16-year renewal of the USMCA.
- Trump signed and praised the USMCA during his first term but now calls it 'irrelevant'.
- The US is the main trading partner for Canada and Mexico, taking 75% and 80% of their exports respectively.
- Dominic LeBlanc sent a letter to Jamieson Greer and Marcelo Ebrard recommending renewal.
- LeBlanc described Tuesday's meeting in Washington as 'positive'.
- Marcelo Ebrard called for a 16-year extension at a press conference in Mexico City.
- Discussions will continue in the coming days and weeks.
- The USMCA is vital for Canada and Mexico's economies.
Entities
Institutions
- United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA)
- Office of the United States Trade Representative
- Government of Canada
- Government of Mexico
Locations
- Canada
- Mexico
- United States
- Washington
- Mexico City