Canada’s consul general urges Washington leaders to defend USMCA, cites tariff costs to state businesses

Craig Weichel, Consul General of Canada based in Seattle, told a packed conference that Washington’s economic ties with Canada are vital and urged local leaders to speak up for the U.S.–Canada–Mexico trade framework.

“We are deeply integrated,” Weichel said, noting that in the first seven months of 2025 Washington exported $4,100,000,000 in goods to Canada and $2,600,000,000 to Mexico. He said that although the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement does not expire, it is under review and remains “essential for shielding businesses, workers, and consumers from escalating trade barriers.”

Weichel cited specific tariff impacts on Washington firms, telling the audience that businesses paid about $36,000,000 in IEPA tariffs, roughly $34,000,000 under section 232 measures, and about $5,500,000 on autos and auto parts during that same seven-month period—numbers he said add up to nearly $76,000,000 in tariffs paid by Washington businesses in early 2025. “That demonstrates just how important the USMCA is to all of our economies,” he said, quoting a report from the Washington Council on International Trade.

He described the Pacific Northwest as a deeply linked region—where goods, designs and workers flow along the Cascadia innovation corridor—and highlighted cross-border cooperation on energy, supply chains and defense. He also asked attendees to advocate for continued close U.S.–Canada relations regardless of federal-level negotiations.

Weichel closed by thanking conference organizers and turning the program over to a panel of state lawmakers. The panel that followed focused on state budget and policy priorities heading into the 2026 legislative session.