A group of experts is sounding the alarm that Ottawa needs to swiftly make more inroads with Americans, or Canada will be deeply disadvantaged in a looming review of a crucial trade agreement.

91裸聊视频淭ime is running out very rapidly for us,91裸聊视频� said Perrin Beatty, co-chair of the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations.

The independent group, which includes former diplomats, policy advisers and business leaders, was created in recent months amid concern Ottawa was 91裸聊视频渟leepwalking91裸聊视频� ahead of a 2026 review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement, Beatty said.

A new report from the expert group says Canada must get its house in order before formal talks begin. It calls on Ottawa to develop and initiate a clear strategy, appoint a chief negotiator and engage with Canada91裸聊视频檚 business community.

91裸聊视频淭he train is fast moving out of the station,91裸聊视频� said Beatty, also president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed 91裸聊视频渢he new NAFTA91裸聊视频� in Canada, was a key test for Ottawa following Donald Trump91裸聊视频檚 victory in the 2016 presidential election.

91裸聊视频淭he new NAFTA is a victory for all Canadians, of every political view, and in all regions of the country,91裸聊视频� Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in January 2020. 91裸聊视频淚t has been a real Team Canada effort.91裸聊视频�

Even so, Robert Lighthizer, Trump91裸聊视频檚 trade representative, critically recounted in his book how Canada handled the renegotiation, saying at one point the two countries weren91裸聊视频檛 speaking and 91裸聊视频淣AFTA was hanging on by a thread.91裸聊视频�

The new report describes Trump91裸聊视频檚 current relationship with the Liberal government as 91裸聊视频渃hilly at best.91裸聊视频� If Trump returns to the White House, he is likely to set his sights on disrupting global trade and has already signalled plans for a 10 per cent tariff on imports.

It doesn91裸聊视频檛 necessarily mean Canada can ease up efforts under a Democratic president. Joe Biden largely kept Trump91裸聊视频檚 tariffs in place, despite promises to reverse them. There was also tension over the Biden administration91裸聊视频檚 Buy American procurement rules.

Many expect Kamala Harris, working to secure the Democratic nomination after Biden ended his run, will follow the path of her predecessor on Canada-U.S. relations. Harris, however, was one of 10 U.S. senators to vote against the trilateral agreement under Trump, saying it didn91裸聊视频檛 do enough to protect American workers or the environment.

The federal government is tracking views about the agreement in Canada, the United States and Mexico, said Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Jean-Pierre Godbout. Ottawa is eyeing a range of potential scenarios for review, he said.

91裸聊视频淲hen the time comes, the government will be ready to advance and defend Canadian interests,91裸聊视频� Godbout said in an email.

Beatty said the problem is the relationship between the two countries has 91裸聊视频渟hifted from being strategic to being transactional.91裸聊视频� In addition, Canada has become a less important trade partner to the U.S. compared with other places in the world.

Ottawa will have to sell Canada91裸聊视频檚 importance for other things like security, said Fen Hampson, co-chair of the expert group.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not going to be easy,91裸聊视频� said Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University. 91裸聊视频淲e really have to up our game.91裸聊视频�

Industry Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne is making regular visits south of the border as part of the Team Canada engagement strategy. Canada91裸聊视频檚 ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, has been pounding the pavement from state to state, and attended the recent Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where she made Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 case.

But the report says there are limits to Canada91裸聊视频檚 charm offensive. Americans are taking a closer look at Canada, but not in a good way.

Trudeau faced significant pressure over Canada91裸聊视频檚 defence spending while in Washington for the NATO leaders91裸聊视频� summit earlier this month.

The prime minister promised to meet NATO91裸聊视频檚 target, the equivalent of two per cent of gross domestic product, by 2032. But he has been criticized for the lengthy timeline and a lack of detail on how Ottawa will make it happen.

Americans across political lines have also been extremely critical of Canada91裸聊视频檚 new tax on large foreign digital services companies. The Office of the United States Trade Representative has said it will do what91裸聊视频檚 necessary to stop the tax.

Canada must stop 91裸聊视频減ulling at the tail feathers of the American eagle,91裸聊视频� positioning Canada as part of the solution instead of part of the problem, Beatty said.

That means the federal government should develop a Hippocratic Oath, like the one taken by physicians, he said.

91裸聊视频淔irst do no harm.91裸聊视频�