Dairy, whiskey, wine and steel: American industries weigh in on trade pact review

WASHINGTON — American industries ranging from whiskey makers and Wisconsin dairy producers to steel and automobile associations are weighing in on the future of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.

The continental trade pact, known as CUSMA, is up for mandatory review next year and the Office of the United States Trade Representative has been collecting input on the changes it should consider.

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CUSMA has been rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s massive tariff agenda and many of the submissions urged the administration to restore duty-free trade.

The Can Manufacturers Institute wrote to the Trump administration saying steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada are making their products more expensive and causing prices in grocery stores to increase.

Not all were in favour of dropping the duties — the United States Steel Corporation said tariffs on that metal should remain indefinitely.

The submissions provide insight into areas that could become irritants in looming negotiations on the critical trilateral trade pact.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2025.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press