Deepening Canada-Mexico relations as the USMCA trade agreement evaluation approaches
Canada and Mexico are working to strengthen their partnership, focusing on trade, energy, agriculture, and more. Last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Mexico City to mend fences and discuss ways to deepen ties between the two countries. The visit was a significant step towards repairing bilateral relations, which had been strained after Canadian officials hinted that Canada 'would be better off without Mexico' shortly after Trump's election. During his visit, Trudeau spoke of strengthening Canada's partnership with Mexico on trade, energy, and agriculture. He also announced an agreement on a new comprehensive partnership and a security dialogue focused on transnational crime and drug-smuggling. A week later, Danielle Smith, premier of the province of Alberta, met with key partners in energy, financial services, and manufacturing in Mexico City. The meetings were part of a series of rounds of bilateral meetings for the coming months, aimed at greater collaboration on security issues, agriculture, energy, finance, health, and the environment. Mexico and Canada have pledged to deepen ties and strengthen the free trade pact they share with the United States. The three North American nations have commenced public consultations for the mandatory review of the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA), set for next year. The evaluation of the USMCA will take place through the end of the year to prepare for negotiations over a possible extension of the agreement. Canada's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard stated that the individual reviews ahead of next year's collective discussions will strengthen each country's economy. The Canadian Trade Minister who conducted a public comment evaluation of the USMCA agreement in connection to the negotiations is Ed Fast. Another suggestion for strengthening the partnership is for Mexico and Canada to jointly produce goods for growing Asian and South American markets through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, of which the U.S. is not a member. Canada's stated goal is to find ways to work with Mexico to preserve free trade in North America and develop a bilateral trade relationship that operates independently of the U.S. White House. However, Canada's two primary ports - Montreal and Vancouver - lack the infrastructure to handle an increase in maritime trade. Mexico, on the other hand, wants to increase bilateral trade via maritime routes to avoid shipping through the U.S. This presents a challenge that both countries will need to address in the coming months. U.S. President Donald Trump's protectionist tariff policies have caused economic uncertainty and made political and business leaders nervous during the bilateral talks. According to Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, Trump's trade threats have made Mexico and Canada share a common threat from the U.S. The fence-mending between Canada and Mexico began in earnest in June when Trudeau met with Mexico City's Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum at the G-7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. The partnership is expected to bring a new era of further strengthening economic ties between Mexico and Canada.
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