Canada and Mexico are exploring options to stand together against the United States in the ongoing trade conflict. Earlier this month, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne visited Mexico. They met President Claudia Sheinbaum to prepare for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming visit for high-level talks.

“It’s very much an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure that we are kick-starting," Anand told reporters. Champagne added, “It sends a very strong signal when you have the foreign minister of a country and the finance minister come.”

At present, Canada faces 35 percent tariffs. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has offered Mexico a 90-day extension for trade negotiations. Both Canada and Mexico remain cautious, wary of Trump’s unpredictable next moves.

History of Uneasy Ties

Despite their shared challenge, Canada and Mexico do not have a smooth history. Their relationship has seen ups and downs in trade and cultural cooperation.

In Ontario, many view Mexican factories as taking Canadian jobs. Over the years, auto industry investment has shifted toward Mexico and the southern US. As a result, Canada’s vehicle production has dropped sharply—from a peak of 2.9 million vehicles 25 years ago to just 1.3 million last year.

Antonio Ortiz Mena, a Georgetown University professor, told The New York Times, “This ménage à trois was made out of convenience, not love. Both countries, Canada and Mexico, have privileged the relationship with the giant in the middle rather than the relationship between us.”

After Trump’s reelection, some Canadians argued for abandoning Mexico and striking a direct one-on-one deal with the US. But Prime Minister Carney rejected this approach, signaling a shift in strategy.

Can They Overcome Differences?

Even if Canada and Mexico reach a shared position, challenges remain. Carlo Dade of the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy warned that Trump could still refuse to honor any agreement.

According to Dade, the smarter strategy may be to rally influential American players. He suggested working with US governors, business leaders, and political figures who see regional trade stability as beneficial to their own interests.

Jorge Schiavon, vice president of the Mexican Council on Foreign Affairs, echoed this view. He said, “The only thing that can contain Trump is America’s own powerful domestic actors; it’s the governors, it’s the big businessmen, it’s the party leaders.”

“They are selfish allies, but they are those who defended the renegotiation in 2018, and they would do it again in 2025,” he added.