On September 20, 2025, the Government of Canada launched a public consultation on the functioning and current relevance of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), ahead of the first joint review of the Agreement by the parties in 2026. The CDCE thanks Global Affairs Canada for holding this consultation, which enables it to contribute to discussions on the review of the Agreement.
The CDCE’s comments and recommendations focus primarily on the need to maintain a general cultural exemption clause — a cornerstone of Canada’s cultural sovereignty — which gives the country the necessary flexibility to design and implement policies suited to its linguistic, social, and economic realities, including in the digital environment. However, the associated retaliation clause remains a tangible threat, particularly in light of recent U.S. criticism and pressure targeting Canadian cultural measures. The CDCE believes that removing this clause would fully uphold the spirit of the cultural exemption by shielding culture from commercial logic and ensuring that Canada retains the freedom to adopt measures supporting artistic creation without fear of economic sanctions.
Regarding the definition of cultural industries, the CDCE reaffirms its technological neutrality and notes that any revision could entail certain risks. Nonetheless, the transformations driven by the digital environment justify ongoing reflection on this issue. Should the Government of Canada consider a revision, measures should be implemented to mitigate these risks, notably by ensuring that any potential redefinition does not restrict the historical scope of the current definition. The CDCE also stresses the necessity of close consultation with representatives of the cultural sector at every stage of such a process.
Furthermore, in light of the rapid evolution of digital environments and the rise of artificial intelligence, it is imperative that Canada maintain and strengthen the mechanisms that allow it to effectively defend its cultural sovereignty, while adapting its tools to technological and commercial developments, so as to protect and promote the diversity of its cultural expressions in an ever-changing global context.
Finally, the CDCE recalls the clear commitment made by the Prime Minister regarding trade negotiations with the United States: “The French language and Canadian culture, including Quebec culture, and supply management will never be on the table”, as reported on April 1, 2025, in The Globe and Mail. More recently, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, Mr. Steven Guilbeault, reaffirmed that “culture is not and will not be on the table (…) and our government’s priority is to get the best deal for Canadians and for our industries”, as reported in The Hill Times on October 15, 2025. Finally, during Question Period on October 22, the Prime Minister again reiterated, clearly and unequivocally, that the cultural exemption, as well as Canadian and Quebec culture, will remain protected in trade negotiations, stating: “We will protect Quebec culture and Canadian culture in the negotiations. That’s it — full stop.” (our translation).