Prime Minister Mark Carney is gearing up for a crucial year as he prepares to meet with the premiers in Ottawa later this month. This comes as the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement (CUSMA) undergoes a mandatory review, intensifying trade negotiations. Carney's agenda includes a first ministers' meeting on January 29th, with a dinner the night before, according to sources familiar with the plans. The meetings are a response to the ongoing trade tensions with the U.S., particularly President Donald Trump's tariffs, which have impacted Canadian industries like steel, aluminum, and automobiles. Carney's trip to China next week will further emphasize the importance of trade and security discussions. The U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, has already outlined conditions for extending CUSMA, including changes to Canada's dairy quota system and online streaming laws. This meeting with premiers coincides with the return of Parliament and follows Carney's recent trip to China, where trade, energy, agriculture, and international security were key topics. The author, Catharine Tunney, is a reporter covering national security and the RCMP for CBC's Parliament Hill bureau.
