Item - 2026.MM41.9

City Council on May 20 and 21, 2026, adopted the following:

1. City Council request the Federal Government of Canada to preserve the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement during the 2026 Joint Review and prioritize the operationalization of provisions that impact supply-chain resiliency and economic competitiveness and advise the Federal Government that City Council:

a. supports the effective implementation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement provisions related to market access and investment certainty, specifically those outlined in Chapter 2 (National Treatment and Market Access for Goods) and Chapter 14 (Investment), to maintain long-term economic stability in Toronto; and

b. supports the active use of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement’s institutional cooperation mechanisms, such as the North American Competitiveness Committee (Chapter 26), to encourage regional investment and regulatory transparency. 

2. City Council urge the Federal Government of Canada to continue investing in strategic customs clearance capacity at regional ports, consistent with Chapter 7 (Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation), to facilitate robust maritime commerce throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. 

3. City Council request the City Manager to engage with relevant stakeholders and regional partners to provide a Toronto-based perspective on the evolution of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement to ensure the agreement delivers tangible benefits to the local business community. 

4. City Council forward this motion to:

a. the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy;

b. Mayor Mat Siscoe, City of St. Catharines, Ontario, Co-Chair - Cities Initiative Board of Directors;

c. Mayor Cavalier Johnson, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Co-Chair - Cities Initiative Board of Directors; and

d. Jonathan Altenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.