Trump’s trade czar says he hopes to give Canada CUSMA ‘options’ by end of year

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says he hopes to provide “options” by the end of the year to U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada and Mexico on renewing the continental trade pact.

At the start of July, Greer said the United States would not renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA.

That decision triggered annual rolling reviews that could continue for up to a decade, after which the agreement would expire unless all three countries agree to an extension.

Uncertainty about the future of the trade agreement has caused anxiety in business communities in all three countries even as negotiations continue.

During a Senate finance hearing today, Greer described the options as interim arrangements with Canada and Mexico.

Greer is also facing tough questions from Democrats about Trump’s latest threat to impose 50 per cent tariffs on an array of Canadian goods.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press