Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials HomeNewsLeBlanc expects deals with U.S. to resolve Trump trade issuesLeBlanc: The July 1 review milestone for the CUSMA is 'not a cliff that everybody goes hurtling off'Author of the article:Last updated 49 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 25, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK/PostmediaCanada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he isn’t surprised the Trump administration decided not to renew the North American trade deal next month, and expects side deals will eventually resolve disputes over the pact.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorLeBlanc said the July 1 review milestone for the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement is “not a cliff that everybody goes hurtling off.”The July date, which is spelled out in the text of the CUSMA, is simply “a moment where the three countries could decide to extend the agreement” for 16 years, he said. U.S. President Donald Trump has said doesn’t want to do that. But the pact still remains in place for another 10 years with annual reviews, unless one country decides to formally withdraw from it.Breaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againSpeaking Thursday at an event in Toronto, LeBlanc said Canada never expected a “rubber stamp” from the White House, and he acknowledged the president’s tendency to create “a certain level of uncertainty” in negotiations. The U.S. has scheduled technical talks with Mexico in July, but the three countries could still agree at any point to extend the agreement.“I would expect that we’ll have bilateral arrangements between Canada and the United States, between the United States and Mexico, sort of adjacent to the trilateral framework,” he said. If those deals resolve key issues, “I’m hopeful that we might at that point have the extension.”Prime Minister Mark Carney said later Canada is also seeking a bilateral deal with Mexico. “We’ll work forward on that. But there would be some commonalities that are retained as part of CUSMA’s extension,” he said, using a Canadian acronym for the pact.The prime minister is under pressure to show progress as the U.S. deepens its own talks with Mexico. Carney has recently promoted a “Fortress North America” approach, arguing expanded Canada-U.S. trade can “make America great again.”U.S. tariffs on autos, steel, aluminum and lumber have battered those Canadian industries and created broader economic uncertainty.LeBlanc struck a positive tone on recent talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Canada is “answering some of the longstanding concerns that the United States has publicly spoken about in terms of non-tariff barriers,” he said.Carney’s government, for example, backed off a plan to force entertainment companies such as Netflix Inc. to make larger financial contributions to Canadian film and television productions — one of a number of regulations affecting US companies that has annoyed the administration.“I had a sense that Ambassador Greer and his colleagues saw the progress that they had been looking for,” LeBlanc said, adding that he believes “there’s a desire to get us on a track where we can have a bilateral conversation.”At the same event, which was hosted by the Eurasia Group and Royal Bank of Canada, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Washington is open to closer cooperation.But he urged Canadian leaders to make a stronger pitch.“If Canada puts on their sales hat, they can make a very, very compelling case” to be a preferred partner to the US, particularly in autos and oil, he said.Canada should say, “we know America has needs across the board and we’re here to partner with America and fill those needs,” Hoekstra added.Mark Wiseman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., pointed out that Canada is the No. 1 export market for more than 30 states. “It’s pretty clear to us how important the United States is to Canada,” he said. “It’s less clear to Americans how important Canada is to the United States.”With assistance from Brian Platt Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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