Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reiterated his call for Canada to pursue a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, excluding Mexico. This statement was made just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump was set to unveil new tariffs on global imports on April 2.
Ford suggested that Canada and the U.S. should focus on renegotiating the US-Canada Agreement (USCA) rather than continuing with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). He argued that Mexico’s practice of importing cheap parts from China, labeling them as “made-in-Mexico,” was harming American and Canadian jobs.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been in discussions with U.S. President Trump. The two leaders agreed to initiate comprehensive trade negotiations following Canada’s federal election, which concludes on April 28. While Carney expressed a preference for including Mexico in these talks, Ford’s proposal has sparked further debate on the issue.
The USMCA, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), was finalized during Trump’s first term and came into effect in 2020. It is set to be reviewed in 2026, though Canadian officials have expressed interest in starting the review process earlier rather than negotiating individual tariffs.
On April 1, Prime Minister Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum held a productive discussion about enhancing the trade and investment relationship between their countries. However, Ford’s calls for a U.S.-Canada only deal reflect ongoing tensions around the structure of North American trade. Despite his position, as a provincial leader, Ford does not have the authority to negotiate federal trade agreements.
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