Ontario Chamber launches Trade & Competitiveness Council ahead of CUSMA review

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has launched a new Trade & Competitiveness Council aimed at strengthening the province’s voice on trade and economic competitiveness as the mandatory review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) approaches.

The review of CUSMA is set to begin July 1.

The council replaces the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Ontario Business and Trade Leadership Coalition, which was created in January 2025 amid rising Canada–U.S. trade tensions.

“This is a defining moment for Ontario’s economy,” said Daniel Tisch, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “As Canada’s economic heartland, we must strengthen our position in North America while expanding our global reach. The OCC’s Trade & Competitiveness Council will give business a clear, coordinated voice to influence our collective destiny.”

The council will be co-chaired by James Scongack, chief operating officer and executive vice-president of Bruce Power, and Chris Conway, president and CEO of Food & Beverage Ontario. It brings together leaders from key trading industries across the province.

According to the OCC, the group will focus on issues including trade diversification, productivity, cost competitiveness, investment attraction and supply-chain resilience.

For 2026-27, priorities include expanding market access, improving tax and regulatory competitiveness, leveraging procurement and artificial intelligence to scale Ontario firms, strengthening North American energy and critical mineral supply chains and supporting business succession planning.

“As the CUSMA review progresses, the council will monitor developments, provide timely input and assess outcomes through the lens of Ontario’s long-term competitiveness,” the organization said.

“CUSMA matters, but Ontario’s competitiveness starts at home,” Tisch added. “The stronger our competitiveness, the stronger our position at the world’s negotiating tables.”