Former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman said scrapping the CUSMA trade agreement would be "phenomenally disruptive" to North American stability [1].
The warning comes as the agreement approaches a deadline for review. Because CUSMA governs critical infrastructure and legal frameworks, its removal would impact the regional economy's ability to compete globally.
Hillman said the agreement is not going anywhere despite the looming review date [1]. She said that while political focus often remains on tariffs, the deal encompasses a much broader set of regulations that maintain order between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
According to Hillman, the agreement provides essential rules on intellectual-property protection and services trade [2]. It also manages customs procedures and other elements that support the overall competitiveness of North America [2].
"Wiping all of that away would be phenomenally disruptive," Hillman said [2].
She said the deal's value extends beyond the high-profile tariff debates. Hillman said the rules set out in the deal cover everything that contributes to the economic strength of the three nations [2].
“Wiping all of that away would be phenomenally disruptive.”
The stability of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is foundational to the integrated supply chains of North America. If the agreement were scrapped, the loss of standardized customs procedures and intellectual property protections would create significant legal uncertainty for businesses, likely increasing costs and slowing cross-border trade.
