* Gold prices fall as dollar remains strong
* Trilateral USMCA review meet set to take place on Wed
* TSX set for eighth quarterly gain in a row
By Sruthi Shankar and Sudeshna Ghoshal
June 29 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Monday
as caution ahead of a review of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade
agreement and weakness in gold miners offset relief from signs
of easing tensions in the Middle East.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index
was down 0.33% at 34,865.17 points by 10:06 a.m. ET.
* Iran and the United States agreed to renew talks amid
rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said on
Sunday, raising hopes of saving an interim peace deal that has
been under pressure from days of tit-for-tat strikes.
* Canadian officials are set to meet their Mexican and U.S.
counterparts on Wednesday for the first trilateral meeting to
review the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement. The three
countries need to approve a renewal of their existing agreement
or signal their intent to exit the pact.
* Oil prices were steady, with Brent crude trading
at above $72 a barrel after sharp falls recently.
* Gold miners stumbled 2.2% as the yellow metal
fell nearly against a stronger dollar.
* Broadly, a rally in commodity prices this year has helped
push the resource-heavy S&P/TSX Composite index to
record highs. The index is on track for its eighth consecutive
quarter of gains.U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the
United States would do better without the USMCA on trade.
* "Canada has been very much moving in a way with the
expectation that we perhaps do not renew the deal with the
United States," said Shiraz Ahmed, founder at Sartorial Wealth.
* "There is a good potential that we can come out of this as
a stronger entity. But in the meantime, there could be some pain
in the short term while this goes on."
* Key domestic data expected this week includes April's GDP
numbers and S&P Global's June manufacturing activity survey.
Meanwhile, traders expect the Bank of Canada to keep interest
rates on hold through most of the year but see about a 30%
chance of a 25-basis-point rate hike in December.
* Investors will also closely watch U.S. data, such as the
June non-farm payrolls report and factory activity surveys, for
cues on monetary policy outlook.