Canada and Mexico launch a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”; Canadian Chamber of Commerce plans delegation for February 2026
Photo: “We received at the National Palace the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney. We strengthen the friendship between nations for the good of our peoples.” – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
This evening, the Prime Minister’s Office announced in a statement from Mexico City: “Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, alongside the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, launched a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to deepen ties between our countries and make North America the most competitive, dynamic, and resilient economic region in the world.”
The 40-minute video of their closing media conference can be seen here.
The Canadian Press summarizes: “Canada and Mexico have signed a pact to deepen trade ties and partnerships to build infrastructure such as ports, rail and energy corridors while tackling crime and protecting the environment.”
Coverage in Mexico
Earlier today, the Spanish language Infobae had reported: “The bilateral agenda [for the meeting between Carney and Sheinbaum] includes a private meeting with a group of Mexican and Canadian businessmen, as well as a joint press conference scheduled for 5:00 p.m. local time, where both leaders are expected to detail the progress made on security, infrastructure, investment, energy and trade issues.”
Later in the day, Infobae reported: “[Carney and Sheinbaum] announced at the National Palace the agreement to strengthen the trade relationship prior to the review of the USMCA with the United States.”
That Infobae article highlighted: “Both supported reciprocal investments and increased cooperation on security and migration issues. …They also spoke of close cooperation on security, and thus facing challenges together. Sheinbaum thanked Carney for the increase in Canadian tourism to Mexico and pointed out that our country will promote measures to maintain this relationship.”
Expanding ocean trade routes
El Sol de Mexico also noted: “To promote a strategic partnership between Mexico and Canada, President Claudia Sheinbaum said that our country seeks to increase trade between the two countries through the ports of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, so as not to pass by land through the United States.”
The Canadian Press also reported: “Sheinbaum said she and Carney would also discuss proposals to expand Mexico-Canada trade through ports on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.”
And CBC added: “Sheinbaum has been openly discussing her desire for Canada to build up its infrastructure, including ports, to create trade and energy corridors — a wish that would align with Carney’s push to build major projects.”
Short term work visas for farm workers
Prior to the partnership being announced, El Economista had reported: “The president added that they will talk about the continuity of an agreement on temporary visas for Mexican farm workers that the Latin American country seeks to expand.”
Bilateral security dialogue
investingLive notes: “Canada and Mexico will launch a new bilateral security dialogue, aimed at deepening collaboration on cross-border threats, law enforcement, and regional stability.”
The Canadian Press also reported: “Carney and Sheinbaum were also expected to discuss co-operation on security, with the aim of establishing regular communication and collaboration between the two countries.”
In Spanish, Milenio noted: “Mexican cartels have a presence in Canada, but there are also Canadian criminal organizations operating in Mexico, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday during a meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace. He added that gangs and cartels do not operate in one direction, but in both ways, which requires collaboration between the two governments through the exchange of information, surveillance and monitoring.”
Mining
The Canadian Press noted that at a media conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum “added that Mexico also wants Canadian mining companies to do a better job of complying with Mexico’s environmental regulations.”
Upcoming trade missions
The Canadian Press reports: “[The partnership] includes a plan for a trade mission to Mexico, led by Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc… [And Catherine Fortin-LeFaivre, senior vice-president of international policy and global partnerships at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, says] ‘The Canadian Chamber will be taking a business delegation to Mexico in early Feb 2026 to turn this momentum into concrete opportunities.’”
Business and human rights
Peace Brigades International will be analyzing the new “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in the context of how it impacts the security situation and protection needs of human rights defenders in Mexico.
This week, Global Witness documented 18 killings and one disappearance of land and environmental defenders in Mexico in 2024.
The latest figures from the Global Witness database also indicate that over the 13-year period of 2012 and 2024 at least:
– 222 land and environmental defenders were killed or disappeared in Mexico
– 110 of the 222 defenders killed were Indigenous (in a country where 19% of the population is Indigenous)
– 17 of the 110 Indigenous defenders were killed by the police or private military actors
– 15 of the 110 Indigenous defenders killed were in a struggle related to mining and extractives
– 42 of the 222 defenders killed involved mining and extractives
– 28 of the 222 defenders were killed by the police or private military actors.
Next week, two Peace Brigades International accompanied human rights defenders will travel from Mexico to Ottawa for a series of meetings to discuss the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.
Stay tuned for more updates.
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