According to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on the 23rd, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that negotiations between Canada and the U.S. government on updating the USMCA could take a long time. The Canadian government insists on pushing for a mutually beneficial agreement, refusing to accept unilateral conditions set by the U.S. or make additional concessions before negotiations begin. Trudeau emphasized that Canada-U.S. talks should be based on equality: "This is not a process where one side makes demands and the other passively accepts."
The BBC reported that current Canada-U.S. trade relations are tightening, and the future of the North American Free Trade framework—the USMCA—remains uncertain. According to schedule, the three countries must complete their mandatory review around early July, but both Canada and the U.S. believe it will be difficult to meet this deadline. Recently, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told Congress that fundamental differences in trade philosophy exist between the two sides. Currently, the U.S. has already initiated bilateral talks with Mexico and plans to formally begin negotiations in May, while Canada and the U.S. have not yet launched formal talks.
Reports indicate that the U.S. insists on treating the update of the agreement separately from steel and aluminum tariff measures—measures affecting Canadian products such as steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles. In contrast, Canada advocates for an integrated approach and opposes splitting the issues. Canadian Trade Minister Maryam Monsef stated that Canada would not accept a scenario where only the agreement is discussed while tariff-affected sectors are left for later handling.
On specific issues, the U.S. has made multiple demands on Canada. Previously, Canada had abolished its digital services tax on tech companies and suspended some retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., but received no reciprocal response. The U.S. continues to demand that Canada repeal the Online Streaming Act, reform its dairy supply management system, and express dissatisfaction with Canada’s restrictions on U.S. alcohol sales, government procurement practices, and customs procedures—going so far as to warn of potential enforcement actions.
Faced with pressure, Canada’s stance has become increasingly firm. Monsef stated that Canada will not make concessions on related issues until the U.S. cancels or adjusts its steel and aluminum tariffs. She emphasized that the federal government will not compel provinces to change policies unless the U.S. presents a concrete proposal that improves Canada’s economic situation. Meanwhile, Canada has drawn clear “red lines,” including not abolishing the dairy supply management system and not abandoning cultural and French language protection policies.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863344377251915/
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