Mexico pushes 16‑year extension of T‑MEC as Canada seeks renewal amid US‑Canada trade tensions

Mexico’s economy minister Marcelo Ebrard sent a formal letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Canada’s trade minister Dominic LeBlanc proposing that the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (T‑MEC/USMCA) be extended for another 16 years, moving the treaty’s expiry to 2042. The proposal was made in the run‑up to the first joint review of the pact scheduled for 1 July 2026 and highlights the desire for investment certainty, removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, and stronger North‑American supply‑chain integration.

Canada echoed the same stance, with LeBlanc’s letter urging the United States and Mexico to renew the agreement for the same period and requesting parallel talks on sector‑specific tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the trade relationship despite ongoing political friction.

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump revived his “51st state” rhetoric, posting the phrase on social media and prompting a repost by U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra. Carney responded that Canada would not react to every Trump tweet, while Canadian officials stressed the economic importance of the trilateral pact, noting that the USMCA shields Canada and Mexico from many of Trump’s protectionist measures.