Canadian agriculture groups are urging the federal government to fully renew the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), warning that any changes to the trade deal could undermine the stability and growth of the sector.
In a letter sent to the federal government Monday, farm and agri-food organizations echoed similar calls from US producer groups, stressing the need for a complete 16-year renewal of the pact without weakening its existing terms.
The groups represent farmers, ranchers, processors, and agribusinesses across the country. They argue that CUSMA has been essential to building a predictable, integrated North American market that allows Canadian producers to compete and expand. Since 2005, they noted, agricultural and food trade among the three countries has tripled, reaching about $400 billion in value.
Industry leaders highlighted the agreement’s detailed rules governing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, biotechnology, and technical barriers to trade — policies they say have created transparency, scientific consistency, and regulatory clarity. Those provisions, they wrote, allow new agricultural technologies to reach farmers faster, protect plant and animal health, and give exporters confidence that they will be treated fairly.
The letter also emphasized the importance of CUSMA’s dispute settlement system, known as Chapter 31, which provides a mechanism for resolving barriers that otherwise disrupt market stability and growth.
With global trade tensions rising, Canadian agriculture cannot afford uncertainty, the letter stressed. Leaders argued that a firm commitment to CUSMA would protect food security, stabilize rural communities, and help North America remain competitive against emerging supply chains around the world.
“CUSMA’s renewal is not only a matter of economic necessity — it is a strategic imperative to safeguard food security, support rural communities, and maintain our global competitiveness,” the letter said.
Industry groups concluded by saying they are prepared to work with Ottawa and North American partners to ensure the deal continues to benefit producers, processors, and consumers in all three countries.
