Carney Appoints Janice Charette as Chief Trade Negotiator to the United States

The appointment, announced February 16, comes ahead of the scheduled joint review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which entered into force on July 1, 2020, and requires a formal review beginning July 1, 2026.

Four Decades of Public Service Experience

Charette brings more than 40 years of experience in public policy and diplomacy. She has twice served as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet — the highest-ranking public servant in Canada — and previously represented Canada abroad as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Her appointment places a senior figure with deep institutional knowledge at the centre of trade negotiations at a critical juncture in Canada-U.S. economic relations.

Focus on CUSMA Review and Bilateral Trade

Working alongside Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Mark Wiseman, Charette will advise the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Dominic LeBlanc, on strengthening trade and investment ties with Washington.

The upcoming CUSMA review will assess the performance of the trilateral agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The trade pact governs tariff-free access for the vast majority of goods traded between the countries.

Canada and the United States maintain one of the world’s largest bilateral trading relationships, with more than $3.5 billion in goods and services crossing the border daily. Over 85 per cent of Canada-U.S. merchandise trade is tariff-free under CUSMA.

Acknowledging Outgoing Leadership

Prime Minister Carney also thanked Kirsten Hillman for her service as Chief Trade Negotiator, in addition to her role as Ambassador to the United States. Hillman has played a central role in defending Canadian interests and managing trade relations during periods of economic uncertainty.

In a statement, Carney said Charette’s experience and leadership would help advance Canadian interests and strengthen the trade relationship in ways that benefit workers and industries on both sides of the border.

With the 2026 CUSMA review approaching, Charette’s appointment signals Ottawa’s intent to enter negotiations with experienced leadership and a focus on preserving market access, supply chain integration, and economic stability.

GTA Weekly will continue to follow developments related to the CUSMA review and Canada-U.S. trade negotiations.