Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a new Canada-U.S. advisory council as Ottawa prepares for a high-stakes review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) later this summer. The move signals a strategic reset in Canada’s approach to trade relations with Washington amid growing tensions and shifting economic priorities.
The newly formed council includes a mix of experienced political and diplomatic figures, such as former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, former cabinet minister Lisa Raitt, former premiers P.J. Akeeagok and Jean Charest, and former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ralph Goodall. While some members from the previous advisory body have been retained, the refreshed lineup reflects a sharper focus on trade and economic strategy.
The council is expected to be co-led by Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia and Janice Charette, who currently serves as Prime Minister Carney’s chief trade negotiator with the United States. Their leadership underscores the government’s intent to align policy expertise with negotiation strategy as talks with the U.S. intensify.
The original advisory council was established in early 2025 under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, in response to escalating trade tensions during U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff push. That group included prominent figures such as Rachel Notley, Kirsten Hillman, David MacNaughton and Jody Thomas, alongside representatives from labour and industry.
Carney’s announcement comes amid increasing concern over the direction of U.S. trade policy. In a recent address to Canadians, he warned that long-standing economic ties with the United States have become vulnerabilities, pointing to tariffs on key Canadian sectors including steel, aluminum, lumber and automobiles.
Meanwhile, progress on CUSMA negotiations appears uneven. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has indicated that Washington is unlikely to resolve all trade issues with Canada and Mexico before the July 1 review deadline. Recent developments suggest the U.S. is moving more quickly with Mexico, with formal bilateral negotiations set to begin in late May in Mexico City following talks with President Claudia Sheinbaum and Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.
As of now, no formal negotiating round has been scheduled between Canada and the United States, raising questions about Ottawa’s position heading into the review. The formation of the new advisory council is widely seen as an effort to strengthen Canada’s negotiating posture and respond more effectively to an increasingly complex and competitive trade environment.
