Canada’s Mexico Mission: Moving from Agenda-Setting to Action

As published in Policy Magazine

Canada has changed its paradigm with Mexico in the wake of the largest Canadian trade mission that government and business have undertaken together – anywhere in the world – in decades. The timing, just months ahead of a key deadline in the USMCA review process, is no coincidence.

Mexico was abuzz with talk of building a bilateral trade “corridor” as nearly 400 Canadian business leaders and more than 240 companies and trade organizations launched a three-city tour in the country last week, led by three federal ministers, four parliamentary secretaries and two provincial ministers. Equal numbers of Mexican politicians, officials and industry heads joined the fanfare with renewed hope that this time Canada was serious about strengthening bilateral engagement.

The cheers and applause that met Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s statement that “Mexico is a very reliable trade partner for Canada” underscored how far political discourse has shifted since late 2024. The echo of calls by some Canadian political figures to exclude Mexico from North American trade talks seems finally to have faded into the background.

With this shift, the Canada-Mexico pillar within North America is poised to play an influential role in shaping our trilateral future, provided both countries act strategically and together. The challenge before government and business in both countries will be to grow this momentum while avoiding the drift that distractions from Washington tend to encourage.

To guide this next phase, Canada and Mexico need to move on from agenda-setting to an ambitious and standalone strategy for each other that centres on an optimistic vision for North America. While last fall’s Canada–Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028 brought leaders, ministers and officials together, the moment now calls for decisive action and results that include the private sector.

This pivot from process to outcomes must focus on three key game changers: 1) a pragmatic and results-driven dialogue on security and trade; 2) joint efforts to get the review and renewal of the USMCA across the line; and 3) concrete advances to strengthen the platform on which business can maximize the advantages of our economic complementarity.

First, the nexus of security and trade

This week’s high‑profile security incidents in Jalisco state and across Mexico made clear that instability in Mexico affects Canadian citizens and companies directly. Looking past the dramatic images of smoke and fire, governments, companies, law enforcement and local communities must communicate effectively and coordinate action to counter the organized criminal networks that extort businesses, block development and drain prosperity.

Despite security challenges, Canadian firms continue to invest in and do business with Mexico, signaling confidence in its long‑term economic prospects. As such, Canada must take a more active interest in its North American neighbourhood.

The changing dynamic close to home requires that Canada proactively engage Mexico in a way that prioritizes, first and foremost, our national interest, while also being coherent with our strategies for the United States and the rest of the world. Last week’s mission set the right tone for bilateral trade and investment and, over the coming months, we can extend this approach to other areas, such as shared security and labour mobility interests.

Canadian companies account for nearly three-quarters of foreign investment in the mining sector in Mexico. They help deliver prosperity to remote regions, but they must also navigate areas with a strong organized crime presence. What’s more, important Canadian transport and energy companies also operate across vast rural territory where the Mexican government is less able to guarantee security and rule of law.

Bringing public and private sector players together more frequently and across all sectors is critical. Mexican and Canadian authorities need access to reliable and timely information from businesses operating throughout both countries, and companies need the stability and predictability that a fluid dialogue with all levels of government provides in order to deploy capital and grow investment.

Greater security cooperation will create better conditions for both countries to thrive and compete globally, both independently based on comparative advantages and from within “fortress North America” vis-à-vis the rest of the world.

Second, the USMCA review 

Last week’s declarations from Canadian and Mexican politicians that both governments are fully committed to reviewing and renewing the trilateral trade agreement were met with relief and optimism among business leaders.

It is in the national interest of both Canada and Mexico to craft a unified, positive message on the future of trade and investment in North America – not in spite of the confusing noise from Washington but because of it.

If we fail to define mutual goals for North America or offer constructive solutions that meet the moment that our shared neighbour is living today, a less favourable path could be imposed upon us. Coordinated Canada-Mexico engagement gives us the best chance to shape outcomes that benefit all three economies and provide a roadmap for our business communities to engage effectively with their U.S. counterparts.

More than simply defending against bad outcomes in the USMCA review, a stronger Canada-Mexico pillar reinforces efforts to keep North America globally competitive.

Third, a reliable platform to grow bilateral trade 

Broad agreement that the Canada-Mexico relationship has underperformed its potential exists across government and industry.

Yet the private sector has still managed to drive important advances in the last 10 years. Canadian investment in Mexico has tripled. A fully connected trilateral rail network now carries bonded goods directly from Canada to Mexico. Airlines have significantly increased routes and cargo capacity between multiple cities in both countries. Partnerships are being built that prepare Canadian and Mexican companies, small and large, to lead in future-oriented industries related to upskilling, AI, data management and the virtual economy.

In about six months’ time, we will see a more complete picture of how this trade mission has advanced our interests. Already, last week saw the signing of various agreements between companies, including the acquisition of Quebec’s Probe Gold by Fresnillo, the world’s leading silver producer and one of Mexico’s largest gold producers; the launch of a strategic partnership between Vancouver’s SimplyAsk.ai and Mexico’s Axtel; and the acquisition of the Port of Altamira in Tamaulipas state by Montreal-based LOGISTEC, to name just three.

The Business Council of Canada seized the opportunity of the trade mission to officially formalize a longstanding relationship built over many years with its influential Mexican counterpart, the Business Coordinating Council. The signing of their new bilateral memorandum of understanding, which was witnessed by trade ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Marcelo Ebrard, will drive forward an ambitious agenda for the Canada-Mexico CEO Dialogue and the joint promotion of the trilateral agreement.

By actively engaging with Mexican counterparts, the Business Council of Canada aims to help build the taxation, regulatory, trade policy, legislative and investment environments in which businesses, big and small, can scale-up and thrive.

Early feedback from Mexicans who watched and participated in the mission suggests that Canada has come a long way in winning back Mexican hearts and minds. Sustaining this positive momentum will require consistent attention and earnest engagement from both business and government.

Analysis of the emerging business opportunities within the shifting sands of geopolitics and trade policy in 2026 is well underway. Mexico has already announced plans for a bilateral economic action plan with Canada, which they hope to finalize by the end of this year. Facts and data projecting real trends and timely market openings will be needed to inform next steps.

By driving consequential, outcome-focused engagement, Canadian and Mexican businesses and governments will have the chance in 2026 to deliver tangible benefits for families and workers in both countries.