Canadian Prime Minister Discusses Trade Agreement Review with Mexican President

The Canadian prime minister held a phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday to discuss the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), according to a readout from the prime minister's office. The leaders agreed to work closely on shared economic priorities and challenges to provide certainty, security, and prosperity for their citizens, the readout stated.

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Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Canadian officials earlier this week. The U.S. and Mexico plan to start official CUSMA talks late next month, while Canada has not announced a similar start date. The agreement requires the three countries to approve renewal or signal intent to exit by July 1, a process that can extend up to 10 years.

U.S. and Canadian officials indicated that talks may continue beyond that date. Greer described potential bilateral arrangements with Canada and Mexico as additions to the CUSMA framework during a speech at a Canadian Chamber of Commerce summit in Ottawa on Wednesday.

The call also addressed bilateral ties beyond CUSMA. A Mexican trade delegation is set to visit three Canadian cities starting in early May for trade talks between government officials. This follows a large Canadian trade mission to Mexico in February, which visited Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey and resulted in over 20 new commercial partnerships and agreements, according to the readout.

The Canadian prime minister welcomed the upcoming Mexican trade mission to Canada, the readout added.

Grievances President Trump announced that his administration is offering immediate tariff relief to Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum companies if they commit to relocating production to the United States. Canadian officials have raised concerns about U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobiles, and forest products, describing them as significant issues.

U.S. officials have suggested that sectoral tariffs are separate from the CUSMA review, but Canadian officials insist they must be discussed together.

During the call, the Canadian prime minister thanked Sheinbaum for support following the killing of a Canadian tourist in Mexico earlier this week. The tourist was shot when a gunman opened fire at one of Mexico's most visited pyramids on Monday, injuring 13 others. The gunman, a Mexican citizen, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.