CUSMA consultation report released
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The government has released a What We Heard report, compiled from the 5,143 submissions it received from its CUSMA review.
Canadians told the federal government they are facing “significant global and regional pressures,” including “new trade barriers, ongoing efforts to enhance supply chain resilience, and rapid developments in the digital economy.” Submissions also stated the need to preserve “a predictable, tariff-free North American market” while modernizing and streamlining trade rules and procedures and strengthening resilience to “geopolitical and other external shocks.” Stakeholders also warned that “unexpected and unpredictable tariff measures raise costs, inflate prices, fragment supply chains, and deter new investment,” the report says, particularly for small- and medium-sized businesses facing complicated border procedures.
In agriculture, participants voiced “strong support for maintaining Canada’s supply-management system for dairy, poultry and eggs as a pillar of food sovereignty, rural stability, and predictable pricing,” and urged Ottawa to maintain “tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and over-quota tariffs to keep the domestic market stable and predictable.” Respondents also called for “simplified, digitized customs documentation and more uniform treatment across ports of entry” to reduce delays and administrative costs. The report also notes that support for “a stable, rules-based North American trading environment” is also needed.
