U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen tried to soothe concerns Tuesday about the upcoming six-year review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, following remarks made by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai last week that the three countries should not feel too comfortable about the outcome of the process.
“I think Ambassador Tai’s comments go to the fact that it’s not a static agreement. It’s dynamic,” Cohen said during a virtual discussion hosted by the Wilson Center Canada Institute. “There was no signal being sent that United States does not continue to value the benefits of the agreement.”
Still, the concern raised by Tai’s remarks reflect a degree of nervousness as the United States, Mexico and Canada approach a mandatory six-year review of the pact in 2026. All three countries will have to confirm in writing that they want to continue the agreement. If not, it kicks off a period of uncertainty over the future of the pact, which is scheduled to expire after 16 years unless renewed during the review process.
At a Brookings Institution event last week, Tai said she believed the uncertainty caused by the six-year review was an important feature of the agreement.
