WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Canadians looking for insights into the future of bilateral trade that “America First” is policy, not a slogan, and they should not expect a return to the way things were.
Sources who attended a roundtable with U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade czar in Washington on Tuesday told The Canadian Press that Greer was measured and pragmatic as he laid out the administration’s policy goals ahead of the coming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade.
About 40 people, including Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman and Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, attended the event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada.
The meeting lasted more than an hour and the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly about what was said, say Greer told attendees the Trump administration is not looking to disrupt the energy relationship between the two countries.
Sources say Greer said the United States is looking to work with Canada on energy and critical minerals development in ways that are mutually beneficial to both countries.
The sources also say Greer warned Canada should not attempt to use those resources as leverage in negotiations on the trilateral trade pact.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2026.
— With files from Sarah Ritchie in Ottawa
