Hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, this mission focused on the next phase of the Canada-U.S. trading relationship and the future of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The mission provided a platform for participating delegates to inform discussions related to the 2026 CUSMA Review, advance Canadian business priorities in Washington D.C., and gain critical insights from experts and government officials from across North America.
Agenda
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All times are in Eastern Time (ET).
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Arrival and Registration |
| 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome and Briefing from the Canadian Embassy Jay Allen, Minister (Economic), Embassy of Canada to the United States of America Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce |
| 9:15 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. | Panel: Canada-U.S. Trade Policy and the upcoming USMCA Review Perspectives from Canadian trade counsellors on how Canada is positioning itself ahead of the CUSMA review, what’s happening behind the scenes, and where business voices can make an impact. Johanna Kruger – Counsellor and Head of Section Annie Ouellet – Counsellor Kaitlyn Pritchard – Trade Program Manager Sonja Frohberg – Counsellor |
| 10:05 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. | Insights on the Current State of Play A conversation on the current trade landscape, including key developments in tariffs, supply chains, and regulatory shifts shaping the road to 2026. Dr. Laura Dawson, Executive Director, Future Borders Coalition Tiffany Smith, Vice President, Global Trade Policy, National Foreign Trade Council |
| 10:35 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Special Guest |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Travel to Next Location |
| 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Delegate Networking Lunch |
| 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Public Event: Renegotiating the USMCA: Next Steps and Key Issues Location: The Brookings Institution Falk Auditorium: 1775 Massachusetts Ave Washington, DC The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is up for its first formal review in July 2026. Projections predict that this review, however, is shaping up to be more of a transformative renegotiation. Discussions are set to focus on areas of non-compliance, places where the agreement can be updated to reflect new global trade and multilateral realities, and how new U.S. tariffs may add complexities. On October 28, the Brookings USMCA initiative will convene an expert panel to discuss the forthcoming USMCA review, what to expect, and the challenges and opportunities to a successful outcome. Joshua Meltzer, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Jean Charest, Former Premier of Quebec | Partner, Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur | Member of Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations Jorge Esteve Recolons, Executive President, ECOM Agroindustrial, Mexico |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Networking and Break |
| 5:30 p.m. | Delegate Reception and Dinner |
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
| 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Networking Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:35 a.m. | Welcome and Briefing An in-depth look at the structure, suspected timeline, and mechanisms of the upcoming review, and how consultations will unfold in each country. Patrick Childress, Partner, Holland & Knight Panel Discussion: Understanding the Structure of the 2026 CUSMA Review Process Facilitator: Gaphel Kongtsa, Director, International Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Turrena Ramirez Ortiz, Partner, Holland & Knight Alison Fitzgerald, Partner, Bennett Jones |
| 9:55 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Panel Discussion: The Geopolitics and Domestic Drivers Behind the 2026 Review A candid discussion on the political climate in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, including elections, protectionism, and public sentiment, and how these forces could impact negotiations and outcomes. Moderator: Pascal Chan, Vice President, Strategic Policy & Supply Chains, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Speakers: Jamie Tronnes, Executive Director, Center for North American Prosperity and Security, CNAPS Sergio Gomez Lora, Representative of Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council (CCE) in Washington | CEO of IQOM Strategic Advisors Michael McAdoo, Partner & Director, Global Trade and Investment, Boston Consulting Group |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:40 p.m. | Business Data Lab & Wrap-up Roundtable Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director, Business Data Lab, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Pascal Chan, Vice President, Strategic Policy & Supply Chains |
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