Mexico backs the three-way deal
Amid ongoing anxiety in Ottawa about where Canada stands in North American trade negotiations, Mexico's foreign secretary has offered some reassurance: his country isn't shopping around for a side deal with Washington that would sideline Canada.
Speaking about the future of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), also known as USMCA, the foreign secretary said Mexico remains committed to the trilateral structure rather than pursuing a bilateral arrangement with the U.S. that would leave Canada out in the cold. The comment comes as speculation has swirled for months over whether the U.S. might try to negotiate separately with each of its two North American trading partners, potentially weakening Canada's leverage at the table.
Why this matters for Canada
CUSMA underpins hundreds of billions of dollars in annual trade between the three countries, and Canadian officials have been watching closely for any sign that Washington is looking to fracture the agreement into separate bilateral tracks. A U.S.-Mexico side deal without Canada would be a significant blow to Canadian exporters, particularly in the auto, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors that rely on integrated North American supply chains.
The agreement is due for a joint review, and all three countries have been positioning ahead of those talks. Ottawa has repeatedly emphasized that it wants to preserve the trilateral nature of the deal rather than risk being negotiated around. Mexico's public commitment to that same approach gives Canadian negotiators some breathing room, even if it doesn't guarantee smooth sailing once formal talks resume.
A united front, for now
Trade watchers note that Mexico and Canada have historically found common cause in resisting U.S. attempts to divide and conquer during trade negotiations, going back to the original NAFTA talks in the early 1990s. The two countries don't always see eye to eye on every file, but neither wants to be the odd one out in a deal that's core to their economies.
For Canadian businesses and workers who depend on tariff-free access to U.S. and Mexican markets, the message from Mexico City is a modest but welcome signal that the trilateral framework isn't about to be quietly dismantled. Still, officials in Ottawa aren't taking anything for granted, with trade negotiations known for shifting quickly and unpredictably, especially when tariffs and border politics are involved.
The federal government has said it will continue to press for Canada's full inclusion in every stage of the review process, arguing that a fragmented approach would undermine the certainty businesses need to plan long-term investment across the continent.
Source: CBC News
