The U.S. and Canada have reached a deal to update NAFTA – renaming it the ‘United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’ – and keep it a trilateral pact with Mexico.

The USMCA details: What we know

Poultry market access will continue to grow over years. Dairy exports capped

Here’s what we know so far on details for the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal. Most of these details are from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, which has posted information about the new deal. Dairy The new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement allows 3.6 per cent more American access to the Canadian dairy […] Read more

Portrait of Holstein cow over a blue sky

DFC hits back at politicians over dairy losses in trade deal

The Dairy Farmers of Canada is expressing angry discontent at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is expressing its strong disappointment in the concessions given to the U.S. in the new USMCA trade agreement. “The announced concessions on dairy in the new USMCA deal demonstrates once again that the Canadian government is willing to sacrifice our domestic dairy production when it comes time to make a […] Read more

Opinion: Trade issues in spotlight as parliamentary session begins

Capital Letters: There's no shortage of uncertainty when it comes to global trade

As members of Parliament returned to Ottawa for the start of the fall sitting, trade is on everybody’s mind. Two of the world’s largest economies, the United States and China, are fighting an ongoing trade war and Canada finds itself caught in the middle. The U.S. is our largest trading partner. The connection between our […] Read more

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to deliver a statement before the start of a Liberal caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, June 1, 2016.

Opinion: Feds likely to face tough time getting provinces’ support

Capital Letters: The political landscape is quite different from what the Liberals were elected into in 2015

Battles between the federal government and the provinces aren’t new. First ministers’ meetings have always been venues where numerous fights and disagreements arose between Ottawa and its provincial and territorial counterparts. In Ottawa circles, analogies to describe the meetings include the prime minister being “thrown into the lion’s den” as provincial leaders clamour to bring […] Read more

Parliament Hill, Centre Block in Ottawa.

Opinion: Brief lull before next political storm

Capital Letters: Parties are going into election mode

It’s the dog days of summer in Ottawa these days. Most of the city is on vacation, with bureaucrats and political junkies alike taking advantage of the slower pace to escape the city – and the heat – for time spent at the family cottage, lake or campsite. Don’t expect the calm to last forever. A […] Read more


Rob Black will be stepping down from his role as CEO of the Rural Ontario Institute to take his place in the Senate. Photo: Courtesy ROI

Rural Ontario leader appointed to the Senate

A leader in Ontario’s agriculture and rural community is one of Canada’s newest Senators. Rob Black, executive director of the Rural Ontario Institute was named one of two new Senators from Ontario by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Feb. 15. Why it matters: It has been a long time since someone so connected in Ontario agriculture has […] Read more

(CBSA-asfc.gc.ca)

Canada to Mexico on NAFTA: You might be on your own

Calgary | Reuters — Canada will focus on preserving its U.S. trade ties during talks to renegotiate NAFTA and may not be able to help Mexico avoid being targeted by the Trump administration, Canadian government sources say. “We love our Mexican friends. But our national interests come first and the friendship comes second,” a source […] Read more

(DonaldJTrump.com)

Protectionism game comes with raised economic stakes: Frum

As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration day approaches, the business world is pondering how the new administration might affect the world economy. Trump’s pride in his unpredictability is troubling, given he’s the president-elect, said David Frum, political commentator, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, and a senior editor for Washington-based magazine The Atlantic. However, […] Read more


Francois-Philippe Champagne, shown here last month in a holiday video message to constituents, has been named federal minister for international trade. (FPChampagne.liberal.ca)

Trade lawyer named federal trade minister

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s latest mini-cabinet shuffle puts a Quebec lawyer specializing in international trade into the trade minister’s chair. Trudeau on Tuesday appointed Francois-Philippe Champagne, the rookie MP for the Shawinigan-area riding of Saint-Maurice-Champlain, as minister of international trade, replacing Chrystia Freeland. Freeland, as widely expected leading up to Tuesday’s announcement, becomes minister of […] Read more

(Europa.eu)

EU, Canada to hold trade summit Sunday

Brussels | Reuters –– The European Union and Canada will hold a summit to sign their free trade deal on Sunday, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday, after Belgium had cleared the agreement with its regional governments. “Mission accomplished! Just agreed with PM @JustinTrudeau to hold EU Canada Summit this Sunday,” Tusk said […] Read more