Carney appoints Janice Charette as chief trade negotiator to the U.S. ahead of CUSMA review

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published February 16, 2026

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Janice Charette as Canada’s next Chief Trade Negotiator to the United States, a move that comes ahead of the scheduled Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) joint review beginning on July 1, 2026.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said Charette will serve as a senior advisor to the Prime Minister and to Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, focusing on the CUSMA review and the broader trade and investment relationship.

Reuters noted the appointment lands as Canada prepares for a high-stakes review amid tariff-related tensions, with roughly 70% of Canadian exports headed to the United States.

The PMO said Charette brings four decades of experience in public policy and diplomacy, including two terms as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, and service as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. She is expected to work closely with Canada’s ambassador in Washington, Mark Wiseman.