Carney's trade council holds first CUSMA review meeting

OTTAWA Prime Minister Mark Carney's newly formed advisory council on Canada-U.S. trade convened for its first meeting Monday, laying groundwork for upcoming negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc chaired the closed-door session, which drew roughly two dozen members from Canada's business and labour sectors. The group reviewed priorities for the scheduled review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA, talks that must begin by July. LeBlanc's office confirmed the discussion focused on Canada's objectives but provided no specifics.

The council represents a key step in Carney's preparations for the CUSMA renewal process, which stems from the trade pact's built-in review mechanism six years after its entry into force in 2020. Negotiations with the U.S. and Mexico are expected to commence in the coming months, amid broader efforts to strengthen North American economic ties.

Notable members include former Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole, ex-Quebec premier Jean Charest and former Nunavut premier P.J. Akeeagok, bringing diverse political and regional perspectives. The meeting also marked the...