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The leaders of Canada and Mexico have pledged to strengthen their ties through a new strategic partnership aimed at boosting trade.
Getting into it: Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Claudia Sheinbaum met at Mexico’s historic National Palace, where they announced the launch of the Canada-Mexico Action Plan, a comprehensive framework designed to expand bilateral cooperation across infrastructure, energy, agriculture, climate, health, and security. Standing side by side, the two leaders framed the moment as the start of a new era in North American diplomacy. “Today, we’re beginning a new era of elevated cooperation,” Carney said, while Sheinbaum added that the partnership would “be translated very soon into direct benefits for our societies.”
The plan includes a focus on strengthening maritime trade routes between Canada and Mexico, reducing dependency on the United States for overland trade, and promoting mutual investment in large-scale infrastructure projects.
As part of the visit, Carney announced $9.9 million in new Canadian funding for UN-led initiatives in Mexico focused on migrant integration and combating fentanyl trafficking and production. Mexico, for its part, expressed a strong interest in Canada’s participation in major infrastructure developments, particularly in expanding port capacity to create efficient trade and energy corridors. “Mexico and Canada will continue walking together, with mutual respect and with a certainty that cooperation is the path to overcome any challenge,” Sheinbaum said.
This all comes as Trump has proposed tariffs on both Canada and Mexico. Trump has tied these tariffs to a range of contentious issues, including fentanyl smuggling, migration, and Chinese imports rerouted through Mexico, framing both neighbors as contributors to what he calls an “invasion” of the US economy and border. His administration recently raised tariffs on certain Canadian goods from 25% to 35%, while granting Mexico a temporary extension.
In response, Prime Minister Carney emphasized that Canada is seeking stability and fairness: “A deal has to go for both sides,” he said.
