AMC is announcing the addition of a new speaker session to its lineup for UNITE: AMC’s 2026 Annual Convention and Trade Show. Matthew Smith, Chief Agriculture Negotiator, Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, will present “Navigating the Next Chapter: Canada-U.S. Trade, Tariffs, & What Comes Next for Agriculture”.

Following Minister LeBlanc’s recent trip to Washington, D.C., Matthew Smith, Chief Agriculture Negotiator with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will provide an inside look at the latest Canada-U.S. trade discussions and the issues shaping the future of Canadian agriculture and manufacturing.

This session will explore the key priorities Canada is working to protect, the outcomes industry must work to avoid, and the broader trade and tariff pressures currently influencing cross-border competitiveness. Attendees will gain insight into the federal government’s current approach, emerging risks and opportunities, and what these developments could mean for Canada’s agricultural manufacturing sector.

Designed as both a briefing and a dialogue, the session will also invite participants to share their own challenges, pain points, and perspectives directly from industry — creating an opportunity for candid discussion on the realities facing Canadian manufacturers today.

Register for UNITE: AMC’s 2026 Annual Convention and Trade Show to attend their insightful presentation.

About the Speaker

Matthew has held a range of trade policy and negotiations roles over the past 20 years at Global Affairs Canada and at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC), working on a number of trade agreements including Canada’s agreement with the United States and Mexico. He has represented Canada at meetings of the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization. In his present role Matthew leads AAFC’s trade negotiations team. Matthew holds a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Toronto.