A Mexican port-of-entry sign on Highway 92 near Naco, Arizona. (Rex_Wholster/iStock/Getty Images)

Mexico becomes first country to ratify USMCA deal

Reading Time: 2 minutes Mexico City | Reuters — Mexico on Wednesday became the first country to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) agreed late last year to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) at the behest of U.S. President Donald Trump. By a vote of 114 in favour to four against, Mexico’s Senate backed the trade […] Read more

(Canada Border Services Agency video screengrab)

Mexico, Canada plow ahead on trade pact ratification despite Trump threats

Reading Time: 2 minutes Mexico City/Ottawa | Reuters — Mexico and Canada said on Friday they would proceed with plans to ratify a new continental trade pact despite a new threat from U.S. President Donald Trump that critics say could undermine chances of the treaty coming into force. Trump, whose administration has made passing the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free […] Read more


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives a standing ovation during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on May 29, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Chris Wattie)

Canada moves to ratify USMCA ahead of Pence visit

Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — The Canadian government formally presented draft legislation to ratify the new North American Trade deal to parliament on Wednesday, less than 24 hours ahead of a visit by U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented the bill to the House of Commons, confirming a Reuters story from Tuesday that […] Read more

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after her arrival at the Stelco steel plant in Hamilton on May 17, 2019, following news that the U.S. agreed to lift tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. (PMO photo by Adam Scotti)

Canada takes first step on ratifying USMCA trade deal

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canada took a first step toward ratifying the new North American trade agreement on Monday just three days ahead of U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence’s trip to Ottawa to discuss the passage of the treaty. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland presented what’s known as a ways and means motion to the House of […] Read more



Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with steel workers at Stelco in Hamilton on March 13, 2018. (File photo: Reuters/Mark Blinch)

U.S. boosts trade pact’s outlook lifting tariffs on Canadian, Mexican metals

Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington/Ottawa | Reuters — The United States struck deals on Friday to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico, the three governments said, removing a major obstacle to legislative approval of a new North American trade pact. The separate agreements, which will not impose U.S. quotas on Canadian and Mexican metals […] Read more


(Canada Border Services Agency video screengrab)

USMCA deal modestly boosts U.S. economy, trade panel finds

Reading Time: 4 minutes Washington | Reuters — The new North American free trade pact would modestly boost the U.S. economy, especially auto parts production, but may curb vehicle assembly and limit consumer choice in cars, a hotly anticipated analysis from the U.S. International Trade Commission showed on Thursday. The ITC report is a crucial step in the push […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

CP conductors, engineers ratify four-year deal

Reading Time: < 1 minute Conductors and engineers for Canadian Pacific Railway have voted for labour peace following a 33-hour strike in late May. CP’s 3,100-odd conductors and engineers, represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), announced July 20 they have voted to ratify a four-year agreement. Almost 63 per cent of eligible employees cast electronic ballots in the […] Read more


Italian sausages, cheeses and other traditional foods for sale in Milan’s Piazza del Duomo in December 2016. (Florin1961/iStock/Getty Images)

Italy in no rush to reject EU-Canada trade deal

Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels | Reuters — Italy is in no hurry to bring the European Union’s free trade agreement with Canada to a parliamentary vote, its farm minister said on Monday, suggesting its opposition to the deal may be easing. Ministers of the eurosceptic 5-Star/League government have said Italy would not ratify CETA (the Comprehensive Economic and […] Read more

Italian sausages, cheeses and other traditional foods for sale in Milan’s Piazza del Duomo in December 2016. (Florin1961/iStock/Getty Images)

Italy says it won’t ratify EU-Canada trade deal

Reading Time: 3 minutes Rome | Reuters — Italy will not ratify the European Union’s free trade agreement with Canada, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday, although Canadian officials played down the threat to the accord, which mostly took effect last year. “Soon CETA (the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) will arrive in parliament and this […] Read more