Carney highlights Canada’s complimentary role with U.S., Mexico

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that the U.S., Canada and Mexico complement each other, as the three countries prepare to review a trilateral trade pact.

His remarks came after he and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sealed a strategic partnership agreement to deepen economic, security and environmental cooperation between Canada and Mexico.

The pact, signed in Mexico City, aims to deal with a series of tariffs imposed by the U.S. in a trade war with Canada since the beginning of the year, which have been met with retaliatory measures from Canada.

“We started with the fact, both Madame President and myself, that North America is the economic envy of the world, is the most competitive economic region in the world, and part of the reason for that is the cooperation between Canada and Mexico -- both of us and the United States," he said

"We compliment the United States. We make them stronger. We all are stronger together,” said Carney.

Mexico and Canada are the United States' largest and second-largest trading partners, respectively, while the U.S. is the No.1 trading partner for both of the others.

For most of the year, the Canadian government has been relentlessly targeted by the U.S. administration. Unlike Mexico, which has managed to stave off U.S. tariffs, Canadian commerce has been hit by President Donald Trump’s highly volatile trade policy.

“At this hinge moment, Canada is deepening our relationships with our longstanding partners -- partners that share our values and aspire to a better, fairer and more sustainable world. Mexico is central to those missions,” Carney said.

Carney's trip is the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to Mexico in eight years. Canadian officials briefing reporters on Wednesday described ties as excellent but conceded they could be closer.

"Highest level engagements have been few and far between, so this is an opportunity for us to reaffirm that leader-level engagement," said one official.

Carney aims to develop a more fruitful relationship with Mexico while securing an agreement with the U.S. saying the latest deal complements the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement and is bound to reinforce their economies.

He also celebrated the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. as an historic opportunity to showcase the principles, diversity and values that bind the three countries, with 48 nations competing in 16 cities.

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