First ministers zero in on trade, investment and barriers at Ottawa meeting
Premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in Ottawa to plan for the CUSMA review, focusing on domestic investment, interprovincial barriers and new international partnerships.
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By Torontoer Staff
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s premiers met in Ottawa to prepare for the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, known as CUSMA. With U.S. threats of new tariffs in the background, Carney said the discussion would concentrate on practical steps within Canada’s control.
The day’s agenda emphasised building domestic strength: attracting investment, forging international partnerships and removing barriers between provinces that raise costs for businesses and consumers.
A pragmatic opening: focus on what can be controlled
Carney opened the session by framing the talks around internal levers rather than external uncertainty. He told premiers the meeting would focus "on what we can control," and urged cooperation on trade diversification and economic transformation.
As we’re building new partnerships abroad, we’re focused on building our strength at home and transforming our economy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney
That inward emphasis reflects growing concern about the U.S. position ahead of the CUSMA review this year. Some premiers compared the current U.S. approach to trade with an unusually volatile period, echoing Carney’s assessment that "almost nothing is normal" right now with the United States.
Premiers pressing for clarity on the Canada-U.S. relationship
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the meeting was an opportunity to clarify what Canada needs from its trade relationship with Washington. His remarks framed the discussion as a preparatory step for the CUSMA review rather than a fresh renegotiation.
What I would like to hear is a conversation around really clarifying what Canada needs in that trade relationship moving forward, and whether or not then we’re able to actually present that and move with respect to, not the renegotiation of CUSMA, but the review of CUSMA.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt noted selective U.S. interest in certain Canadian exports is already low, citing softwood lumber as an example. She said a separate deal outside CUSMA appears unlikely, and that provincial officials are communicating the effects of low lumber prices on U.S. producers.
But we are constantly looking at ways to make it clear to the U.S. administration how the U.S. lumber producers are suffering under a low price.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt
Domestic priorities: investment, partnerships and interprovincial barriers
Carney thanked premiers for progress on reducing interprovincial trade barriers and urged more action. He said removing remaining obstacles is essential to unlocking economic potential and lowering costs for businesses and households.
To realize our full potential, we need to break down the remaining costly and long-standing barriers once and for all.
Prime Minister Mark Carney
For readers interested in how these federal-provincial talks could affect everyday life, three clear threads emerged: boosting domestic investment to support jobs, seeking new markets beyond the United States, and streamlining trade within Canada to reduce costs and improve supply chains.
- Domestic investment: a focus on attracting capital that supports local industries and employment.
- Trade diversification: exploring partnerships beyond North America to lessen dependence on any single market.
- Interprovincial reform: cutting regulatory and logistical barriers that raise prices and slow goods movement.
Fault lines remain: energy and pipelines
Despite a generally cooperative tone, tensions persisted. British Columbia is upset about federal support for a possible pipeline to the West Coast, a flashpoint that continues to complicate relations between provinces. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described talks as showing "progress" and said discussions with B.C. Premier David Eby and Carney "went very well."
Progress
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Those provincial disagreements matter because energy infrastructure decisions affect jobs, municipal revenues and household costs across Canada. Premiers said presenting a united "Team Canada" approach is a goal, but reaching consensus on pipelines and resource projects will remain difficult.
What to watch next
Look for the premiers and federal government to pursue three things after this meeting: coordinated pitches to foreign investors, concrete steps to reduce interprovincial friction, and clear messaging ahead of the CUSMA review. How those efforts translate into policy and investment will determine whether the talks ease the uncertainty facing businesses and consumers.
This report was first published Jan. 29, 2026. The premiers’ meeting set a direction focused on domestic action and partnership building, but major cross-provincial and international questions remain.
tradeCUSMAprovincial politicseconomyMark Carney
