U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he is “not looking to renew” the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, known in the United States as the USMCA and in Canada as CUSMA. The trade pact replaced NAFTA and has governed free trade among the three countries since 1992. Trump said he made the original deal because he considered NAFTA the “worst trade deal” he had seen, but argued he improved it and claimed he had the authority to terminate it.
Trump also said he was unsure whether he would negotiate a new version of the agreement. He suggested the United States does not need goods from Canada or Mexico, while both countries depend heavily on access to the U.S. market. In his remarks, Trump said Canada and Mexico need to treat the United States better in trade talks.
He pointed to U.S. trade deficits with both countries and said the United States should instead have surpluses. Trump specifically mentioned imports such as cars, lumber and energy, saying the United States does not need them. His comments signal renewed uncertainty around the future of one of North America’s most important trade agreements, which affects supply chains, manufacturing, agriculture and cross-border commerce across the continent.
CUSMA/USMCA was negotiated during Trump’s first term as a replacement for NAFTA after years of criticism that the older agreement no longer reflected modern trade realities. The current pact includes rules covering auto production, labor standards, market access and dispute resolution. Any move away from the agreement could have major implications for businesses, workers and consumers in all three countries.
Trump’s latest remarks come amid ongoing political debate in the United States over trade policy and relations with Canada and Mexico. They also raise questions about what would happen if the agreement were not renewed or replaced before it expires or is renegotiated. For now, Trump’s comments add fresh pressure and uncertainty to the future of North American trade ties.
