Canadian aquaculture groups call for full 16-year CUSMA renewal.
More than 80 Canadian agriculture and agri-food organisations, including leading aquaculture bodies, have signed an open letter urging Ottawa to back a full 16-year renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The signatories say the deal has been “instrumental” in building an integrated North American agricultural market, with trilateral agriculture and agri-food trade estimated at around CAD 400 billion in 2023. They argue that predictable market access and common rules have underpinned investment and growth across farming, processing and export sectors.
Aquaculture signatories include the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association, BC Salmon Farmers Association, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, Association des Aquaculteurs du Québec, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association, Ontario Aquaculture Association and PEI Aquaculture Alliance, alongside several regional farmed shellfish and seafood groups.
The letter highlights CUSMA provisions on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, biotechnology, technical barriers to trade and dispute settlement as critical for maintaining science-based, predictable access to the US and Mexican markets. The organisations call on the federal government not to weaken these elements in any renewal process, warning that changes that harm agriculture could undermine food security, rural economies and North American competitiveness.
The groups also voice strong support for Chapter 31 dispute settlement rules, describing them as essential for resolving trade barriers that could otherwise disrupt market stability.
With the agreement approaching its first formal review window, the signatories say a full 16-year renewal, without harmful changes to agricultural provisions, is needed to preserve a rules-based trading environment and give businesses the confidence to continue investing in capacity, innovation and jobs.
