Prime Minister Mark Carney is anticipated to signal a strategic partnership settlement with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum throughout his go to to Mexico, which begins at this time.
The settlement will cowl infrastructure, commerce, well being, agriculture, emergency preparedness and safety, senior authorities officers say.
Carney’s two-day go to to Mexico Metropolis is occurring as Ottawa seeks extra commerce with Mexico in response to america’ commerce battle, and as each nations brace for the renegotiation of the continental commerce deal linking all three economies.
It follows an August journey to Mexico by Overseas Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne to debate financial development, safety and commerce. They have been joined by a delegation of Canadian and Mexican enterprise leaders.
Senior authorities officers say Carney and Sheinbaum will take part in a one-on-one assembly at this time, adopted by a working lunch with Anand, Canada-U.S. Commerce Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Carney’s parliamentary secretary Rachel Bendayan.
That assembly will contain discussions on how Canada and Mexico can work collectively to fight drug and firearm trafficking, and different actions linked to organized crime.
Carney and Sheinbaum are additionally anticipated to debate co-operation on safety, with the intention of building common communication and collaboration between the 2 nations.
Solange Márquez is an knowledgeable in diplomacy and world governance and a professor on the Nationwide Autonomous College of Mexico and the College of Toronto. She stated each Mexico and Canada have been anxious to rebuild their relationships with america and have proven little latest curiosity of their bilateral relationship.
“We’re seeing one another extra like rivals than pals. Each nations try to get into the U.S. market, each nations try to be extra pleasant with the White Home,” she stated.
That’s very true when it comes the automotive sector, which performs a big function within the economies of each nations, she stated. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to attract extra automotive manufacturing into the U.S. by the usage of tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
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Mexico additionally took discover of some heated language popping out of Canada after Trump accused each nations of turning a blind eye to fentanyl trafficking final 12 months.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated final November that “to check us to Mexico is essentially the most insulting factor I’ve ever heard,” whereas then-prime minister Justin Trudeau voiced considerations about Chinese language investments in Mexican provide chains.
Sheinbaum shot again days later, stating that her nation “have to be revered, particularly by its buying and selling companions” and that Canada “might solely want that they had the cultural riches Mexico has.”
Márquez stated Mexico was initially upset by these statements however “that’s previously.” She stated Carney is seen in Mexico to be strengthening the connection and making Sheinbaum’s authorities really feel revered.
“For Sheinbaum it’s a totally totally different relationship than the one with Trudeau,” Márquez stated. “They perceive one another very effectively.”
Senior authorities officers agreed, saying the connection has been “optimistic” since Carney took workplace. In addition they pointed to Carney and Sheinbaum’s shared purpose of accelerating home manufacturing and making their economies extra resilient.
Márquez stated each leaders nonetheless want to return to the desk with clear goals, corresponding to making certain Mexico and Canada stand united because the renegotiation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico commerce pact approaches.
Trump might try to divide them in an effort to safe a greater deal for his nation, she stated.
Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre accused the Liberals final month of failing to safe a bilateral commerce take care of Mexico. However the Carney authorities says it has by no means sought a two-way take care of Mexico that excludes the U.S.
When requested the place Poilievre acquired the concept, his workplace stated it was primarily based on Sheinbaum being requested by native media whether or not she wished a bilateral take care of Canada.
Final week, when requested whether or not she and Carney can be discussing the looming renegotiation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico commerce pact, Sheinbaum famous that Mexico and Canada have interaction in loads of two-way commerce and funding.
She informed a Wednesday press convention that Carney’s go to isn’t meant to undermine the continental alliance.
“All three nations need to preserve (the commerce deal), however we need to strengthen commerce with Canada,” she stated in Spanish. She added that Mexico additionally needs Canadian mining firms to do a greater job of complying with Mexico’s environmental laws.
Ottawa says that the bilateral buying and selling relationship is rising, citing nearly $56 billion in two-way merchandise commerce in 2024 and $46.4 billion in direct funding in Mexico.
Márquez stated Carney might be spending a major period of time within the Nationwide Palace, suggesting he’s taking the time he wants to barter and perceive Mexico’s place.
Sheinbaum stated she expects to work with Carney on “varied themes,” together with “strengthening commerce by sea and ports.”
Whereas Sheinbaum and Carney each have backgrounds in local weather coverage — Sheinbaum as a local weather scientist and Carney as a former local weather envoy to the United Nations — Márquez stated she doesn’t count on local weather change to be a significant focus of their conferences.
Vitality might be on the desk, Márquez stated, noting Mexico understands the significance of renewables and mining.
Sheinbaum can also be making an attempt to navigate ties with China after lately saying tariffs on Chinese language vehicles and different items in response to U.S. stress. Analysts have famous that Mexico didn’t instantly safe beneficial properties from Washington after saying the coverage.
Canada, Mexico and the U.S. haven’t held a North American leaders’ summit for the reason that one in January 2023 in Mexico Metropolis.
Ottawa was set to host the occasion — generally referred to as the Three Amigos summit — in 2024, nevertheless it was sidelined by elections within the U.S. and Mexico and the political tumult that confronted Trudeau on the time.
Senior authorities officers stated Wednesday they don’t seem to be at present planning one other summit, citing a scarcity of curiosity from all three nations.
