Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit Mexico on September 18 to meet President Claudia Sheinbaum, aiming to strengthen trade ties amid escalating U.S. tariffs, a senior official confirmed. The trip, first reported by Bloomberg, comes as both nations navigate a tense trade landscape with the United States and prepare for a critical 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The meeting follows Carney’s efforts to diversify Canada’s trade partnerships, with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne meeting Sheinbaum earlier this month to discuss economic collaboration. The leaders, who last met at the G7 Summit in Alberta in June, are expected to focus on resilient supply chains, port-to-port trade, and sectors like energy and artificial intelligence.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s 35% tariffs on non-USMCA-compliant Canadian goods, alongside 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum and 25% on auto imports, have hit Canadian industries hard, while Mexico received a 90-day tariff reprieve. Mexico, Canada’s third-largest trading partner after the U.S. and China, and Canada, Mexico’s fifth-largest in 2024, seek to bolster their economic relationship to counter U.S. pressures.

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Critics, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, have slammed Carney for failing to secure tariff relief, calling his international approach “weak.” Meanwhile, experts like Laura Macdonald from Carleton University note Canada’s historical reluctance to engage deeply with Mexico, urging a shift to tap the untapped potential of their trade relationship. As the USMCA review looms, Carney’s visit signals a strategic push to align with Mexico and safeguard North American competitiveness.

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