CUSMA took effect on Canada Day 2020, replacing NAFTA
Canada's trucking industry welcomed the new trade deal, which governs the market where most cross-border freight moves by truck.
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) came into force on July 1, 2020, replacing NAFTA.
In a June 30, 2020, statement, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) praised the federal government for negotiating the deal and seeing it through.
Why it mattered for trucking
CTA said CUSMA protected about $1.5 trillion in trade among the three countries and gave Canada protected access to its largest trading partner. According to CTA, about 10 million trucks typically crossed the Canada-U.S. border each year, hauling more than 70 per cent of Canada's trade with the U.S.
Then-CTA chair Scott Smith said the agreement would "remove uncertainty in the supply chain," which he called much-needed during the COVID-19 crisis.
CTA also said it was concerned by media reports at the time of a possible new tariff dispute, and warned that punitive trade measures hurt everyone on both sides of the border.