Canada proposes 16-year extension of North America's free trade agreement

The Canadian government has officially notified the United States and Mexico of its intention to renew the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), according to Canadian media reports.

Canada is proposing a 16-year extension of the trilateral free trade deal and seeking to avoid the annual review process outlined in the agreement, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister responsible for Canada-US trade, said in a letter to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, Canadian television network CTV reported on Tuesday.

Under CUSMA, which took effect on July 1, 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement that had been in force since 1994, the three countries must decide by July 1 whether to extend the agreement for another 16 years or move to an annual review process.

"Canada recognizes that either or both other parties to the agreement may wish to propose areas where improvements may be warranted to strengthen North American competitiveness," LeBlanc wrote in the letter, adding that Canada "looks forward to continued engagement" with the United States and Mexico.

LeBlanc also stressed that discussions with the United States on sectoral tariffs would be essential.

While the United States and Mexico have reported progress in their formal bilateral negotiations, Canada has yet to take part in any formal talks related to the agreement's review.

LeBlanc traveled to Washington on Tuesday for talks with Greer.