June 24, 2025
In a context of customs duties and increased bilateral trade tensions, the Canada Chamber of Commerce returned to Washington DC, on June 10 and 11, with a delegation of 30 business leaders and political leaders – led by Candace Laing, our president and head of management.
Organized with the support of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and the United States Council for International Business, this mission led by companies has devoted itself to the strengthening of trade links between Canada and the United States and the economic security of North America as the Canada-US-Mexico (ACEUM) agreement (ACEUM), which will also have been reported in 2026. Objective to discuss with American political decision-makers of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, an important bill of budget reconciliation in the United States.
Briefing at the Canada Embassy
The mission began the morning of June 10 with an information session at the Canada Embassy in Washington DC, in which key representatives of the embassy participated in particular with trade, energy, innovation and agriculture. We have also collected the words of Chandresh harjivanformer special assistant of the president at the White House, responsible for the national preparation and response to biological threats.
Round tables with business leaders and provincial representatives at the United States Council for International Business
After the morning sessions at the Canada Embassy, we participated in a series of round tables of experts in commercial policy and the ACEUM at the United States Council for International Business office. We were greeted by Whitney BairdPresident and CEO, United States Council for International Business.
Jeanette Paelldirector of government affairs and public policy at Google, led a round table on the ACEUM in which participated Alice Slayton Clark, First vice-president, commerce, United States Council for International Business; Matthew HolmesExecutive Vice-President, International and Public Policy Manager, Canada Chamber of Commerce; And Claudia Frutos-PersonDirector partner, Curtis.
He’s Lukashehfirst main director, AWS Canada, then hosted a round table with provincial representatives. Among the speakers were David Patersonrepresentative of Ontario at Washington DC; Robert Mauriceattaché to commercial affairs, Quebec delegation in Washington; Julia BaremanDirector General of Alberta offices in the United States; And Justin MeyersSenior Politics Advisor, Nelson Mullins.
Marsha abdouPrincipal Director of Research at the Canada Chamber of Commerce, also presented the way in which the Canada Chamber of Commerce business laboratory allows Canadian companies and political decision -makers to find their way into the turbulent commercial economic situation. To find out more about the business laboratory on companies, click here.
North America at the crossroads: advance economic security
After a day of private discussion, we closed our program of June 10 with a public dialogue organized at the Hudson Institute. Candace Laing animated a discussion on the future of North American economic relations (“North America at the crossroads: to advance economic security”). Among the speakers were Oil OiloManaging Director, Adit North America; Sergio Gómez LoraDirector General of the US Office of the Mexico Business Coordination Coordination Council (CCE); Thomas DuesterbergHigher Research Associate, Hudson Institute; And Luke CoffeyHigher Associate of Research, Hudson Institute. You can view the full recording of this session here (in English).
The day ended with a private reception and a dinner at the Palm restaurant.
Round table with experts and politicians of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States
The program for the second day of the mission took place at the office of the Capitol hill of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. The day began with an information meeting on the current business policy situation, organized by the United States Chamber of Commerce, in which participated John Murphysenior vice-president, manager of international affairs, and Neil Herringtonmain vice-president, Program of the Americas. This meeting was followed by a discussion with senior executives from the offices of Senators Tim Kaine (Democrat – Virginia) and Kevin Cramer (Republican – Dakota from the North), hosted by Anne McKinneyvice-president, program of the Americas. The Canada Chamber of Commerce also met Senator Angus King (independent – Maine) separately at its Senate office.
During the second half of the day, we participated in round tables with experts and business leaders on the state of commercial policy, the repercussions of article 899 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Bill Bill and the future of ACEUM and relations with North America. Among the speakers, let us quote Ed Razorvice-president, international trade, consumer technology association; Patrick Childressassociate, Holland & Knight; Lizeth Cordova Solis, Main political advisor, Holland & Knight; Jamie TronnesManaging Director, Center for North American Prosperity and Security; Brian Clowformer Canada-United States manager with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Sergio Gómez LoraManaging Director (American office), Business Coordinating Council of Mexico; Brad WoodSenior Director, Commercial and Innovation Policy, National Foreign Trade Council; Joshua MeltzerHigher Associate of Research, Brookings Institution; And Catherine Fortin LeFaivrefirst vice-president, international policy and world partnerships, Canada Chamber of Commerce.
The mission ended with a discussion between Candace Laing et Laura DawsonDirector General of the Future Borders Coalition, on the lessons learned and the next steps.
Despite current trade challenges, it is obvious that the business community remains optimistic about a more united, safer and more prosperous North American future. While ACEUM’s examination is fast approaching, the Canada Chamber of Commerce will continue to defend the possibility, for Canadian businesses, play a central role in the advancement of economic security and prosperity in North America.
We sincerely thank our partners in Washington DC, who made these important discussions facilitated: the United States Council for International Business, the United States Chamber of Commerce and the Canada Embassy in Washington DC
