Carney to Washington: Canada will not accept dictated terms in the CUSMA review

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 23, 2026

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Prime Minister Mark Carney raised the pressure on Washington over trade, saying Canada will not enter the CUSMA review as a subordinate party and will not accept one sided American terms ahead of the July 1, 2026 review milestone.

Carney said the process must be based on equal negotiation and mutual interest, not unilateral pressure, as trade tensions remain elevated between Ottawa and Washington following tariffs imposed on key Canadian exports in recent months.

The harder line comes as Ottawa tries to strengthen its position before broader talks begin, amid growing concern over Canada’s heavy dependence on the U.S. market. At the same time, the government is working to diversify trade options and reinforce its domestic economic front ahead of a potentially difficult review process.

Carney had announced on April 21 the creation of a new advisory committee on Canada U.S. economic relations, signalling that his government sees the CUSMA review as a major sovereignty and economic file, not simply a technical trade discussion.

The review is shaping up as one of the first major tests for Carney’s government because it goes beyond trade and touches the broader future of Canada’s economic relationship with the United States.