International Trade Committee on Sept. 22nd, 2025

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

I understand that it is essentially through an online portal that everyone can participate in this exercise.

Is that correct?

[Aaron Fowler]

I don't know if that's primarily the case, but it's probably the easiest way for the majority of Canadians to provide their opinions.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

One of the issues we often have to deal with is transparency. In the past, the committee has had trouble getting information about certain renegotiations.

I know that not everything is said in a public meeting and that certain things have to be discussed only at the bargaining table. However, will you commit to keeping this committee abreast of developments that are important in future negotiations with our American neighbour?

[Aaron Fowler]

I'm here as a witness, and I'm happy to accept further invitations to come and speak to you.

There are other policies in place to ensure that Parliament is kept abreast of the negotiations and the objectives that the government is pursuing within those negotiations. My team and I are working very hard to ensure that these policies are fully respected.

I hope that the committee and, more generally, Parliament feel that they are well informed about our agenda.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

I was in Washington last week. I met with a number of U.S. officials. We were told that discussions were being held, but no formal negotiations were being conducted.

Can you confirm that statement?

[Aaron Fowler]

In my opinion, that's a fairly subjective assessment, but it seems right to me to say so.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

So it would be subjective, but you share the same opinion.

Is that right?

[Aaron Fowler]

What's the difference between a discussion and a negotiation? Maybe it's the presence of flags on the table.

The subject discussed by the parties is not necessarily different, whether we are talking about a discussion or a negotiation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

There are 28 seconds remaining.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Nevertheless, the official status is different. For example, the Prime Minister told us in the House that he was exchanging text messages with the U.S. president. We have rarely seen international agreements renegotiated in this way.

Right?

[Aaron Fowler]

I'm not in a position to comment on the exchanges between the Prime Minister and the president.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Mantle, please go ahead for five minutes.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Fowler, for being here. I'm sure you're a busy man, but I hope we can see you more often.

I want to follow up on comments from my Bloc colleague.

First, if we were to study further issues with respect to the Canada-U.S. relationship or the CUSMA renegotiations, would you commit to coming to the committee again? It's a yes-or-no question.

[Aaron Fowler]

If I am the appropriate official to appear and answer your questions, it would make me happy to do so.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Do you think the chief negotiator for the Canada-U.S. trade relationship would be an appropriate official to call in such a case?

[Aaron Fowler]

Probably, but that is not me.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Are you not the chief negotiator?

[Aaron Fowler]

I am Canada's chief negotiator, meaning that the team of Canadian negotiators who work at Global Affairs Canada across the full range of our trade negotiations report to me, and I try to set a strategic direction and consistency in the approach that we take, but any given—

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Excuse me, sir. I'm sorry.

If we were to call you and ask you to come again, would you come?

[Aaron Fowler]

If it were deemed that I was the appropriate official, of course I would come. I've never declined an invitation from this committee that I can recall.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

You were just mentioning the CUSMA consultation. I assume that you—or maybe not you, because we're not sure what you're doing here in this negotiation—are going to be reviewing those public consultations to inform your negotiation strategy, decision-making, etc. Is that correct?

[Aaron Fowler]

It is how the process generally works, yes.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Okay. Would you commit to providing the committee copies of those submissions so we can also be apprised of how Canadians are understanding the negotiation?

[Aaron Fowler]

I will have to revert to you on that because there is a question of protection of privacy in the information. Sometimes it is very confidential, business-sensitive information that's being provided to us, so I think that would be a question of appropriate handling of the information that we receive from Canadians.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

I understand. Yes, I know there's a privacy statement that goes with the submission request, the redaction of personal information and confidential business information, etc., but when would you be able to get back to us on that?