British Columbia Premier David Eby criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for stating he does not intend to renew the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The tension over the trade deal threatens the economic stability of North American partnerships and highlights a growing diplomatic rift between Canadian provincial leadership and the U.S. executive branch.
Speaking in Vancouver on June 11, 2026 [1], Eby responded to remarks from the U.S. President. Trump said, "I'm not looking to renew CUSMA" [2]. The agreement governs the flow of goods and services between the three nations, serving as a cornerstone of regional commerce.
Eby said the President's comments were "pretty lame" [1]. He further said the remarks were "a bit bizarre, a bad sequel to The Art of the Deal" [1]. The reference points to Trump's 1987 book on negotiation tactics, which Eby suggested was being applied inappropriately to a serious international trade partnership [1].
The BC Premier said the dismissive nature of the comments is unsuitable for the complexity of the trade relationship. He suggested that the self-promotional style associated with the President's previous business writings does not translate effectively to the requirements of maintaining a stable trilateral agreement [1].
CUSMA has provided a framework for tariff-free trade and investment across the borders of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Any failure to renew or renegotiate the terms could lead to significant economic disruptions for exporters and importers in British Columbia and across Canada [2].
“"Pretty lame"”
The public friction between a Canadian provincial leader and the US President underscores the vulnerability of the CUSMA framework. By framing the trade dispute as a 'sequel' to a business book, Eby is signaling that Canada views the current US approach as transactional rather than diplomatic, which may complicate official federal negotiations as the agreement's expiration or review periods approach.
