Leaders of Mexico and Canada Vow Closer Ties

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on September 18 in Mexico City, marking Carney’s first visit to Mexico as Canada’s leader. The two leaders shook hands and walked side-by-side into the presidential palace, signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and launching the Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025-2028, a three-year roadmap for joint actions. The plan is built on four pillars—prosperity, mobility and inclusion, security, and environment and sustainability—covering areas such as agriculture, energy, natural resources, health, security, emergency preparedness, and climate action.

The meeting centered on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), due for review in 2026. Sheinbaum stated, “USMCA is a testament to if Mexico, Canada and the United States work together, we can create prosperity, face global challenges successfully and position ourselves as the most dynamic region in the world.” She emphasized that teams have been set up to review the agreement, with hopes of preserving trilateral free trade.

Sheinbaum said the two countries had agreed to a plan that would “bring a new era of further strengthening economic ties” between Canada and Mexico, including increasing bilateral trade via maritime routes to avoid transiting goods through the United States for greater stability. She dismissed prior comments by Canadian premiers suggesting exclusion of Mexico as preelection posturing and shut down interest in a standalone bilateral trade deal with Canada, stressing unity in USMCA renewal talks. The nations pledged additional bilateral meetings in the coming months and greater collaboration on security, agriculture, energy, finance, health, and the environment. Over 75% of Canada’s exports and more than 80% of Mexico’s go to the U.S., underscoring the closely integrated economies.