A look at the range of reactions to the new USMCA deal

“It is a great deal for all three countries, solves the many deficiencies and mistakes in NAFTA, greatly opens markets to our Farmers and Manufacturers, reduces Trade Barriers to the U.S. and will bring all three Great Nations together in competition with the rest of the world. The USMCA is a historic transaction!” — U.S. President Donald Trump on Twitter

___

“Our supply-managed producers will be fully compensated, because that is the fair thing to do. We want to be sure that the compensation is carefully thought through, and we have begun that process already. And I’d like to remind people that there is still a road to travel before this modernized agreement is ratified and enters into force, and we are going to use that time really thoughtfully and carefully to make sure we get the compensation right.” — Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland

___

“Justin Trudeau is trying to claim credit for things Conservative governments had already locked down. And if we are to judge this by Trudeau’s own stated objectives when negotiations began, the USMCA falls well short of that.” — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer

___

“Canadian workers need their government to fight for trade deals that work for them. With #USMCA, we have a new name, but a worse deal. From concessions that’ll hurt our farmers, to making medication more expensive – this deal is not the progressive solution Canadians need.” — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on Twitter

___

“This agreement is a highly significant achievement for Canada, while benefiting all three countries as it should. I have not yet had the opportunity to study the full text — and frequently the devil is in the details — but Canada appears to have achieved most if not all of its important objectives in this lengthy and challenging set of negotiations.” — former prime minister Brian Mulroney

___

“We’re calling on the Trudeau Liberals to compensate our farmers. To support our steel and aluminum workers in the auto industry. They need the support of the federal government. We weren’t at the table or maybe the deal would have been a little different.” — Ontario Premier Doug Ford

___

“We want a type of agriculture in Quebec that is human and family-oriented — and not one that is industrial and in which we lose all capacity to make decisions.” — Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard speaking hours before polls were to close in a provincial election

___

“This agreement is a disgrace. A disgrace for Canada, a disgrace for Quebec. It is an expression of the systemic injustice Quebec is victim of within Canada.” — Party Quebecois Leader Jean-Francois Lisee

___

“Manitoba has worked to build enduring relationships at the American state level. These relationships can be critically important when we’re faced with challenges in the broader Canada-U.S. relationship. I acknowledge the work of premiers across Canada for helping to keep these relationships strong and showing leadership over the past months.” — Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister

___

“Our government made it clear what Alberta was looking for: provisions that protect and enhance Alberta’s energy sector, a clear mechanism for dispute resolution … and, most importantly, trade certainty for Alberta because we are an export province. Today’s agreement does provide trade certainty.” — Alberta Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous

___

“NAFTA 1.0 was not perfect, nor is the USMCA. But the most successful trading alliance in history will continue. Lots to discuss & analyze to be sure. Bottom line: free trade faced its greatest threat to date and free trade won.” — tweet from former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore

___

“The Liberals made concession after concession, until the Trump administration got the deal it wanted. In the process, Canadian government sold out Canadian steel and aluminum workers … The U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum must be lifted immediately.” — United Steel Workers Canadian Director Ken Neumann

___

“Granting an additional market access of 3.59 per cent to our domestic dairy market, eliminating competitive dairy classes and extraordinary measures to limit our ability to export dairy products will have a dramatic impact not only for dairy farmers but for the whole sector. This has happened, despite assurances that our government would not sign a bad deal for Canadians.” — Dairy Farmers of Canada President Pierre Lampron

___

“The USMCA will ensure certainty and improved trade stability among all three countries. FPAC is specifically pleased with the outcome of maintaining the existing Dispute Settlement Mechanism as this allows all industries in the three countries to challenge discriminatory trade actions.” — Forest Products Association of Canada Chief Executive Officer Derek Nighbor

___

“With this agreement, we look forward to stability returning to our integrated North American agri-food supply chains. The imposition of tariffs and uncertainty over the last several months has been challenging. In Canada, food and beverage is the largest manufacturing employer, more than the automotive and aerospace sectors combined. Agri-food manufacturing jobs and a prosperous agri-food sector go hand in hand.” — Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance

___

“Once again, the farmers have taken the first hit. After CETA, the CPTPP, and now NAFTA, we are sure that we won’t be getting fresh, local, hormone-free milk. They are on the front lines of all of our trade agreements. But, it is not just them. NAFTA 2.0 may affect our ability to regulate pipelines, keep our drug prices down, and successfully protect our data and the financial system will be affected in the long term.” — Council of Canadians Honorary Chair Maude Barlow

___

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version carried an incorrect spelling for Ken Neumann’s last name.

by Canadian Press

A look at the range of reactions to the new USMCA deal

Our Community