Ottawa, August 16, 2025 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit Mexico on September 18 as Canada and Mexico seek to strengthen bilateral trade relations while navigating heightened tensions with the United States.
The visit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Canadian non-CUSMA-compliant goods to 35 per cent earlier this month, while temporarily exempting Mexico. The move has raised questions over Washington’s differing approach toward the two countries.
Canada had sought to reach a tariff agreement with the United States by August 1, but Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, who is responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, confirmed that no viable deal was on the table. Meanwhile, Trump granted Mexico a 90-day extension of its existing tariff regime, with the goal of finalizing a new arrangement during that period.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne visited Mexico City last week to lay the groundwork for deeper bilateral cooperation. “With Mexico, we are neighbours but we could get to know each other better,” Champagne told reporters, noting that both countries were exploring “port-to-port lines of trade.”
While Canada and Mexico are both partners in the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), collaboration between Ottawa and Mexico City has historically lagged compared with their respective ties to Washington. Carney has emphasized the need to diversify Canada’s economic partnerships since his election, signaling an intention to reduce reliance on the U.S. market.
The prime minister’s upcoming trip has drawn criticism from opposition leaders. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Carney of failing to secure meaningful agreements with either the U.S. or Mexico. “Mark Carney promised that he was an international man of mystery who was going to negotiate deals and end tariffs. Well, what’s the result been so far?” Poilievre said, citing also recent Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola as evidence of weakness in the government’s trade policy.
Carney’s visit comes as a review of CUSMA approaches. The trade pact, signed in 2018 and implemented in 2020, is formally scheduled for review in July 2026. However, concerns are mounting that Trump could push for an earlier renegotiation. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has warned that the U.S. president may reopen the deal as soon as this fall, urging Canada to prepare for a tough negotiation.
Minister LeBlanc has sought to ease such concerns, stating earlier this year that he has “no reason to think” Trump will accelerate the review timeline.
Carney’s September 18 visit to Mexico is seen as part of Ottawa’s broader strategy to bolster economic ties with partners beyond the U.S., as Canada braces for potentially turbulent trade negotiations ahead.
