By The Canadian Press

Janice Charette to be Canada’s top trade negotiator during CUSMA review

Feb 16, 2026 | 7:29 AM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney has chosen Janice Charette, the former head of the public service, to serve as the country’s chief trade negotiator to the United States.

Charette is a career bureaucrat who twice served as clerk of the Privy Council and once as high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Her appointment comes just ahead of a major review of the North American free-trade pact, known as the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.

It also comes a day after Mark Wiseman, a global investment banker and pension fund manager, took the reins as Canada’s next ambassador to Washington.

Canada’s last ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, recently stepped down so a fresh team could be assembled to take on the review of the trade pact.

Special Weather Statement

Winter threatening to make a return to the Fraser Valley this week

16h ago

Hit and run

Hit and run in Abbotsford leaves pedestrian with life-threatening injuries: AbbyPD

21h ago

Tree clearing

Lane closure ahead for Highway 1 through Abbotsford this week

22h ago

U.S. President Donald Trump has slammed Canada with tariffs in key sectors over the past year and is expected to adopt a hardball approach during the coming CUSMA review.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 16, 2026.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press