Mexico’s Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, said that Canada remains involved in negotiations ahead of the 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), despite recent tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The latest dispute occurred in late October, when the U.S. imposed a 10% tariff on Canadian goods in response to a television ad from Ontario’s government that featured remarks by former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.
“Canada is still participating; during APEC they met, and the Prime Minister held a meeting with President Trump. They will continue to be part of the process,” Ebrard said in an interview with Radio Fórmula.
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, several Canadian lawmakers have proposed a bilateral trade deal with the U.S., excluding Mexico, arguing that the trilateral agreement complicates regional economic stability.
Trump himself has said that the USMCA could be renegotiated or replaced with “individual deals that might work better for each country.”
In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the trade pact is law in all three nations, meaning any modification would require a thorough review.
Ebrard added that talks with the U.S. are nearing completion and that Mexico holds a favorable position, benefiting from zero tariffs on most exports and key advantages in the automotive sector.
“Our goal for 2026 is a structured review process. We don’t intend to reopen the entire agreement, only to ensure Mexico remains competitive,” he said.
The USMCA was signed in 2018 and came into force on July 1, 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Source: XEU Noticias
