The revamped trade pact between the United States, Canada and Mexico taking effect on Wednesday was meant to create a kind of fortress North America, boosting the region's competitiveness -- but cracks are already starting to show in the foundation.

It would be rather disastrous for Canada to suddenly decide we’re not on board with the new NAFTA at this point, Rob Breakenridge says.

More than anything, though, USMCA would just restore certainty to US$1.4 billion worth of annual trade between the three countries more than two years after Trump began contentious negotiations on a new regional trade pact.