Canada's PM picks Janice Charette to lead CUSMA negotiations

Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed former Privy Council clerk Janice Charette as chief trade negotiator to the United States and senior adviser, as Canada prepares a scheduled review of the Canada‑U.S.‑Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) this year.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has named Janice Charette chief trade negotiator to the United States and a senior adviser to the prime minister and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc. The announcement comes as the federal government prepares for a scheduled review of the Canada‑U.S.‑Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) this year. Charette previously served twice as clerk of the Privy Council, from 2014 to 2016 and again from 2021 to 2023. She has also served as Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom. Key facts: - The Prime Minister’s Office announced Janice Charette’s appointment as chief trade negotiator to the United States. - Charette will act as a senior adviser to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada‑U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc. - The appointment was made ahead of a scheduled review of the Canada‑U.S.‑Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) this year. - Charette served twice as clerk of the Privy Council (2014–2016, 2021–2023) and was previously high commissioner to the U.K. - In 2022 she recommended use of the Emergencies Act and later testified at the Public Order Emergency Commission; she also appeared at a commission on foreign election meddling. Summary: The appointment places an experienced former public service leader in charge of Canada’s negotiations with the United States as the government prepares for the CUSMA review. Charette will advise Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc during the review process. The announcement did not detail specific next procedural steps for the negotiations.