Canada’s new ambassador to the U.S. is ‘ready, willing and able’ to begin CUMSA negotiations

OTTAWA - Canada’s new ambassador to the United States says Canada is ready, willing and able to start the CUSMA review with partners in Mexico and the U.S.

In his first address to parliamentarians, Mark Wiseman told members of the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee that Canada is willing to start the formal review process and reduce uncertainty.

Wiseman said Canada is having discussions with the United States specifically around the Section 232 tariffs and “beyond” to try and reduce uncertainty created by U.S. trade policy. Asked how long those negotiations would continue, Wiseman said that was a question he couldn’t answer.

So far, Wiseman said no date has been set for when the formal review of CUSMA will begin. Asked why that review has not started, Wiseman wouldn’t say. He also would not discuss the government’s strategy when it comes to the removal of Section 232 tariffs.

“It takes two sides to have a meeting,” Wiseman said after repeated questioning from a Conservative MP around why formal CUSMA review talks have not begun. “Mr. Chair, I can’t speculate as to why meetings are or not taking place.”

Wiseman, along with Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator to the U.S. Janice Charette, are part of a team leading the CUSMA review negotiations. While he called this an important part of his role, he said it’s not his only role as Canadian Ambassador to the United States.

The Ambassador added that he intends to serve Canadians with a “clear focus” on advancing national interests, during what he called a defining period in the bilateral Canada-U.S. relationship.

“Our objectives are clear: first, to secure stable and preferential access to the entire North American market; second, to reinforce Canada’s economic sovereignty; and third, to defend Canadian workers and businesses” Wiseman told the committee.

Last week, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said there have been no “serious” trade talks with Canada since last fall.

“It’s not an intense negotiation. There really have been no serious negotiations since October of last year,” Hoekstra told podcaster Jasmin Laine.

Asked when the last formal round of negotiations took place, when offers were exchanged to remove section 232 tariffs, Wiseman replied that there are on-going discussions. He would not say when the formal talks last took place.

What is our relationship with the U.S.?

The Canada-U.S. relationship Wiseman told the committee, has changed under the current Trump administration due to the imposition of tariffs. America first policies, Wiseman added, do not always align with Canada’s sovereign interest.

“The Prime Minister has been clear, Canada must build a new economic and security relationship with the United States, one that is principled, pragmatic and anchored in resilience and sovereignty that will be central to my work as ambassador,” he said.

Wiseman said a delegation of Canadian politicians will travel across the United States this summer to states including South Carolina, Utah, Minnesota and Illinois to help advance Canadian interests in the United States.

English-only reception invite

Wiseman drew criticism Thursday for sending an English-only invite for a reception to MPs who sit on Canada’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Asked about the unilingual invite, the prime minister said he has tremendous respect for Wiseman but that he was disappointed by his decision to send out a unilingual invite.

“It’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed,” he said. “I’m disappointed in him, disappointed in his office.”

In his opening statement, Wiseman called this an unacceptable error that has been corrected. The invitation, he said, has been re-sent in both official languages.

“That invitation going out in English only is unacceptable, and I want to apologize on behalf of the embassy, and personally,” he said. “I want to be firm in my commitment for the need to promote bilingualism in Canada.”

Where does Wiseman stand on supply management?

Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe repeatedly questioned Wiseman on previous comments he made around supply management saying he is now the voice for Quebec in Washington.

In a 2024 editorial, Wiseman said that supply management “secures the market for a protected group of settled players, impeding innovation and keeping prices artificially high for Canadian consumers.” Brunelle-Duceppe called that editorial “hostile to Quebec.”

Wiseman responded to questions about his position on supply management by saying the Prime Minister has been clear that supply management is not on the table in any negotiation.

“Whatever my views may have been or may be today is completely irrelevant to the job that I have to carry out,” he said. “I will carry out that job faithfully in protecting supply management in so far as I have a role in that, because that is the policy of the government of Canada, and that is my job.”

Who is Ambassador Wiseman?

Mark Wiseman was appointed to the role as Canadian Ambassador to the United States in mid-December but officially took the post on Feb. 15, 2026. In a release announcing his appointment, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wiseman brought “immense experience, extensive contacts and a deep commitment at this time of transformation for our relationship with the United States.”

Wiseman came to Washington after serving in roles including President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation. The businessman also served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations.

The high-profile position became available after Ambassador Kirsten Hillman announced she was stepping down after six years in the job. Her resignation came months before a review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) was set to begin.

“While there will never be a perfect time to leave, this is the right time to put a team in place that will see the CUSMA review through to its conclusion,” Hillman said in a December statement announcing her resignation.

Asked what he has done in the 67 days since he officially took office, Wiseman said he has worked on building relationships with members of Congress, members of the executive branch and meeting with Canadian and U.S. business and labour sector leaders.

“In my early days, my focus has been inside the so-called Beltway,” he said.