International Trade

The House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade met to study the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), hearing from Arlene Dickinson, an investor appearing as an individual; Catherine Fortin LeFaivre and Gaphel Kongtsa of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; and Charles Dutil, President and CEO of Manac Inc.

Arlene Dickinson, speaking on agri-food, argued that Canada must make food security a core pillar of trade and build a unified "Canada" brand to increase global visibility, noting that Asian buyers know little about Canadian agri-food beyond generic commodities. She recommended that regulatory approvals for manufacturing facilities be streamlined to 12 to 18 months, that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency be modernized with published service standards, and that interprovincial trade barriers be removed. She also said the Prime Minister's Council on Canada-U.S. Relations, of which she is a member, has not met in months and has not made formal recommendations on the CUSMA review or retaliatory tariffs.

Catherine Fortin LeFaivre of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce emphasized that the CUSMA review should prioritize continuity of the agreement, implement targeted measures to enhance North American economic security, and strengthen integration by eliminating recently imposed tariffs. She noted that the chamber has submitted recommendations to Global Affairs Canada and the U.S. Trade Representative, and stressed the need for effective implementation of government trade programs and more trade missions to build relationships, particularly in Europe, Mexico and the Indo-Pacific.

Gaphel Kongtsa of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce detailed seven areas for strengthening CUSMA, including a competitiveness agenda, digital trade updates, regulatory alignment, workforce mobility, simplified rules of origin, customs modernization, and coordination on non-market economies. He recommended unwinding section 232 tariffs on Canada and Mexico, broadening preferential tariff treatment for CUSMA-compliant goods, and introducing a rapid response mechanism for tariff escalation. He warned that annual reviews of CUSMA would be hugely destabilizing for businesses and that all three countries' business communities prefer a single, productive review in 2026.

Charles Dutil, President and CEO of Manac Inc., a semi-trailer manufacturer, stated that his company exports about 12% of its Canadian production to the U.S. but faces unfair tariffs on steel and aluminum content applied since August 2025, even on CUSMA-compliant products, while U.S. trailers enter Canada duty-free. He called for reciprocal rules and a level playing field, and identified labour availability as the main constraint on growth, noting that skilled immigration is essential to address demographic challenges. He disagreed with the notion that Canadian manufacturers can easily access overseas markets, explaining that different standards and dimensions make non-North American markets inaccessible without relocating production.

The committee also heard from members on topics including the impact of reduced foreign worker quotas, the need for predictability in trade policy, and proposals for resource development and Indigenous participation, but no procedural debate, motions or votes occurred during this meeting.