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The CUSMA Countdown: 24 Days to a Trade Deadline That Could Hit Your Wallet

Canada's free trade deal with the U.S. hits a mandatory review milestone on July 1. With negotiations unresolved and Washington demanding changes, here's what it actually means for your groceries, your car, and your job. MoneySavings.ca Staff Canadian Money Brief June 7, 2026 5 min read What Is CUSMA and Why Does July 1 Matter? CUSMA — the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement — is the trade deal that keeps the North American economy humming. It replaced NAFTA in 2020 and governs the movement of trillions of dollars in goods and services across the Canada-U.S. border every year. For Canadian consumers, it's largely invisible — until it isn't. Built into the agreement is a mandatory six-year joint review, and that clock expires on July 1, 2026 . By that date, all three countries must declare whether they want to renew the deal for another 16 years, trigger annual reviews, or walk away. Whatever they decide, CUSMA technically stays in force until 2036 — but the path chose...

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Canadian Inflation Climbs to 1.9% in January as Core Measures Edge Higher

 

Canada’s annual inflation rate in January rose modestly to 1.9%, up slightly from December’s 1.8% . The increase was largely driven by a surge in energy prices—especially gasoline and natural gas—which counterbalanced the downward pressure on prices provided by the recent GST/HST tax break on select goods ; additional details were outlined by Statistics Canada.

Core inflation measures, which exclude the more volatile food and energy components, also recorded an uptick. Both the CPI-median and CPI-trim indexes climbed to 2.7%, indicating persistent underlying price pressures despite headline inflation staying near the Bank of Canada’s target range of 1–3%.

Analysts suggest that while the tax holiday helped ease food price inflation—leading to declines in some categories—the rebound in energy costs has nudged overall inflation upward. With the temporary tax break now ended, economists will be closely monitoring upcoming data to determine if this modest rise is a temporary anomaly or a sign of more entrenched inflationary pressures.

By keeping a keen eye on core inflation metrics, policymakers and market watchers alike are preparing for future monetary decisions aimed at keeping inflation in check as new data emerges.


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