A statement was issued Wednesday from Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy who said that at the meeting between the three countries he reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering support for the CUSMA and its renewal and says all parties agreed on the importance of continuing discussions.

This after the United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says the U.S. is not renewing the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement “in its current form” — but the trade agreement will remain in place as negotiations continue. Signing would have meant a 16-year extension.

LeBlanc says Canada would require substantive discussions with the United States on addressing sectoral tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, autos and lumber.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Director of Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University says this does not end the pact immediately but launches years of annual negotiations and extends uncertainty across North America’s integrated economy. He suggests agriculture, automotive, and food processing could be among the hardest-hit sectors.