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Canada Refuses US “Entry Fee” Concessions Ahead of CUSMA

4/23/2026

29 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Canada says United States is demanding an “entry fee” of trade concessions before CUSMA talks, a demand Ottawa rejects.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada will not make further concessions to the United States ahead of the CUSMA review.
Canada convened a council to meet on April 27 on trade irritants such as dairy quotas, after dropping a digital services tax and pledging to protect dairy, poultry and egg supply-management system.

History

Historical Context

The Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA), signed on January 1, 1989, laid the groundwork for trade relations, leading to a 30% increase in bilateral trade by 1993. Ongoing tensions, particularly over dairy quotas, echo past negotiations and could influence future agreements like the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020.

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Story summary

Canada says United States is demanding an “entry fee” of trade concessions before CUSMA talks, a demand Ottawa rejects.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada will not make further concessions to the United States ahead of the CUSMA review.
Canada convened a council to meet on April 27 on trade irritants such as dairy quotas, after dropping a digital services tax and pledging to protect dairy, poultry and egg supply-management system.

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