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Ottawa Names Janice Charette Canada’s Chief U.S. Trade Negotiator Ahead of CUSMA Review

The choice signals Ottawa’s push to field an experienced team for the mandatory CUSMA review scheduled for July 1, 2026.

Overview

  • The Prime Minister’s Office announced the appointment on Monday, adding that Charette will serve as a senior adviser to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
  • Charette will coordinate closely with Mark Wiseman, who just became Canada’s ambassador to Washington, following Kirsten Hillman’s recent departure.
  • CUSMA requires a joint review at its sixth anniversary on July 1, 2026, and the pact has shielded much of Canada’s trade with the United States, which takes roughly 70% of Canadian exports.
  • A veteran public servant, Charette twice served as Clerk of the Privy Council and was Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2021.
  • Coverage notes that Charette recommended invoking the Emergencies Act in 2022 during the Ottawa protests, a prominent entry in her public record.