A significant hearing in Washington regarding the fate of Canada’s trilateral trade pact with the U.S. and Mexico initiated on Wednesday with various U.S. agricultural, business, and policy organizations urging the Trump administration not to terminate the agreement.
Conducted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the hearing serves as the focal point of the government’s public discourse on whether to extend the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in 2026, renegotiate it, or withdraw altogether.
Numerous speakers advocated for the extension of the agreement, highlighting how its provisions for free trade have enabled their industries to enhance revenues by accessing both the Canadian and Mexican markets. Concerns were raised about the potential jeopardy posed to this beneficial access by President Donald Trump’s tariff-driven trade disputes.
Dave Walton, the American Soybean Association’s secretary, criticized Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian and Mexican exports, particularly targeting specific industrial goods like steel, aluminum, and automotive parts. Walton expressed worries that such tariffs could lead to retaliatory actions against U.S. soybean farmers.
Riley Bushue, representing the Northwest Horticultural Council, which includes major U.S. apple, pear, and cherry growers, emphasized the detrimental impact of retaliatory tariffs imposed by Mexico during Trump’s initial trade war on the industry’s exports.
Bushue highlighted the precarious position of American family tree-fruit farms, at risk of closure, and emphasized the catastrophic consequences of losing preferential access to Mexico and Canada.
The testimonies presented at the hearing are expected to influence the Trump administration’s decision on whether to extend CUSMA when it comes up for review on July 1, 2026. According to federal law, the USTR must communicate its recommendation to Congress by January 2 regarding the renewal of the trade agreement or any alternative actions.
While the hearing witnesses discussed the agreement, President Trump indicated his stance on renegotiating it, stating that they might either allow it to expire or negotiate a new deal with Mexico and Canada. Trump criticized the trade practices of Mexico and Canada, expressing a readiness to explore alternative agreements.
Nearly 150 individuals are scheduled to present over the three-day hearing, organized by industry sectors. The first day’s discussions were primarily driven by U.S. agricultural producers, along with representatives from the clothing, pharmaceutical sectors, and various trade policy experts.
Raquel Espinoza, chair of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, called for the maintenance of tariff-free trade with Canada and Mexico, emphasizing the benefits of such arrangements for American consumers and agricultural exports.
Alicia Rockwell, chief government affairs officer for Blue Diamond, a prominent almond producer, emphasized the critical importance of Canada and Mexico as markets for the industry, highlighting CUSMA’s vital role in supporting numerous family farms.
Although many sectors voiced their support for extending the trade deal, some raised concerns about its implementation, focusing particularly on issues with Mexico. Avocado growers, for instance, raised concerns about inadequate inspections of imported avocados from Mexico and called for quotas to regulate tariff-free avocado imports.
Moreover, various U.S. industries highlighted challenges with Canada’s trade practices, particularly in the dairy sector, with concerns raised about Canada’s perceived exploitation of loopholes in dairy trade commitments.
Industry representatives also advocated for specific provisions in the renewed agreement, such as mandatory country of origin labeling for beef products and geographic designations for distilled spirits like American bourbon, Canadian rye, and Mexican tequila and mescal.
