BMCC Statement on the Launch of the U.S. Consultation on CUSMA

September 17, 2025

The Black Manitobans Chamber of Commerce welcomes the launch of the U.S. consultation on CUSMA by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This moment marks a critical milestone ahead of the 2026 CUSMA review, and the stakes could not be higher.

For months, Canadian businesses have operated under a cloud of uncertainty driven by the U.S. administration’s unpredictable trade posture. That instability weakens investor confidence, stifles growth, and puts long-term prosperity at risk. Only by reinforcing the trade architecture that binds us, and delivering a CUSMA built for the future, can we restore the certainty our businesses depend on.

BMCC will engage directly through our provincial government, chamber network, industry associations, and business leaders to provide concrete recommendations to strengthen CUSMA. But we also sound the alarm: Canada must be prepared for every scenario, including the possibility that a future Trump administration walks away from the agreement altogether.

We urge the Government of Canada to act decisively now:

Develop a robust, preemptive strategy to safeguard Canadian interests in the event of CUSMA’s collapse.
Map out countermeasures to protect key sectors, workers, and supply chains.
Build cross-border alliances with U.S. states, business communities, and industry leaders who value economic integration.

To the Trump administration, our message is direct: Tearing down CUSMA would be an act of economic self-sabotage. The agreement has fostered a deeply integrated North American economy, one where manufacturers, exporters, and service providers rely on predictable, tariff-free trade to stay competitive globally. Undoing that progress would raise costs, disrupt supply chains, and hurt workers on both sides of the border.

CUSMA is not just a trade deal. It is the backbone of our continental economy. Letting it unravel would be a historic failure. At a time when global uncertainty is rising, North America must lead with unity, ambition, and resolve.