Canada and Mexico have vowed to deepen cooperation on trade and security, presenting a united front as both countries navigate growing economic pressure from the United States.
Following a bilateral meeting in Mexico City, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasisedthe importance of unity within North America, even as Washington raises tariffs on key goods.
“We compliment the United States, we make them stronger, and we are all stronger together,” Carney told reporters.
The talks mark Carney’s first official visit to Mexico as prime minister and signal a reset in relations after last year’s tensions, when Canadian officials were accused of seeking a separate trade arrangement with Washington during tariff negotiations. At the time, Sheinbaum bristled, insisting that “Mexico must be respected, especially by its trading partners.”
On Thursday, the mood was far warmer. The leaders exchanged gifts and shared pleasantries at a joint news conference, with Carney declaring, “Our agreement today will expand and deepen the partnership, so that the next 30 years hold even greater promise than the last 30 years have delivered.”
Both governments are facing tough headwinds. Canada is battling US tariffs of 50% on steel, 25% on vehicles, and 10% on oil and gas.
Mexico faces a 25% levy on pharmaceuticals, a 30% tariff threat paused until late October, and a controversial 25% “fentanyl tariff,” imposed by President Donald Trump in the name of border security.
Observers say the renewed coordination is strategic, with both countries wary of being pitted against each other in the run-up to the 2026 review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“It’s a subtle dance,” said Sebastián Vallejo Vera, a political scientist at Western University. “Canada and Mexico want to show unity, without appearing to gang up on the US.”
Canadian officials also noted a strong economic incentive for closer ties: bilateral trade with Mexico reached C$56 billion ($40.5 billion) in 2024. Analysts suggest Canada, whose exports to the US have struggled under tariff pressure, may have more to gain from the partnership than Mexico.
Despite the challenges, both Carney and Sheinbaum stressed that collaboration remains the key to resilience in North America.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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