Canada, Mexico to strengthen ties against US tariff threats

Canada and Mexico have pledged to deepen their bilateral relationship and closely coordinate their approach ahead of the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

During a visit to Mexico on Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss economic cooperation and regional security.

At a joint news conference, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties between their nations and maintaining a unified front within the trilateral trade agreement with the United States. Their meeting comes amid renewed tariff threats
U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting Canada and Mexico to prepare a coordinated strategy.

President of Mexico Sheinbaum said she was optimistic the two countries would continue to work together with reciprocal “respect”.

“Mexico and Canada will continue walking together, with mutual respect and with a certainty that cooperation is the path to overcome any challenge,” she said.

Carney said North America is the “economic envy of the world”, in part due to trade cooperation between Canada and Mexico.

“I have full confidence, and so does the President Sheinbaum, that we can find the adjustments needed to reinforce competition and competitiveness in our region,” he said.

While both Sheinbaum and Carney have been attempting to reach side trade deals with US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, they insisted they were not in competition with each other.

“We will move forward together,” Carney said.

Both Canada and Mexico have been targeted in President Trump’s trade war. His administration imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian steel and a 25% tariff on certain Mexican pharmaceuticals. Mexico was also hit with an additional 25% “fentanyl tariff,” based on Trump’s claims about the flow of illicit drugs across the southern border into the U.S.

Mexico and Canada are the United States’ largest and second-largest trading partners, respectively, while the U.S. remains the top trading partner for both countries.

In 2024, trade between Mexico and Canada totaled $40.5 billion. In comparison, Canada’s trade with the United States reached $924.4 billion.

Prime Minister Carney’s visit marks the first bilateral trip by a Canadian leader to Mexico in eight years. Canadian officials described the relationship between the two countries as “excellent,” though they acknowledged there is room for closer cooperation.