Canada to ship largest-ever commerce mission to Mexico in 2026

A big Canadian commerce mission is about to go to Mexico early subsequent yr, with stops scheduled in Mexico Metropolis, Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Canada’s ambassador to Mexico, Cameron Mackay, informed Canadian outlet CBC Information in a latest interview that the Canadian authorities is laying the groundwork for a “Group Canada” commerce mission to Mexico subsequent February.

🇨🇦🇲🇽 Whereas in Mexico, Minister LeBlanc and a Canadian delegation of enterprise associations strengthened the significance of strengthening Canada-Mexico relations to make sure continued prosperity and collaboration throughout North America.#EconomicGrowth#TradeDiversification@CanEmbMexico pic.twitter.com/bPOZBB9156

— Canada Commerce (@CanadaTrade) December 12, 2025

He mentioned that the mission shall be led by Canada-U.S. Commerce Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who met with Mexico’s Financial system Minister Marcelo Ebrard in Mexico Metropolis earlier this month.

Mackay informed CBC Information that tons of of Canadian companies have utilized to hitch the mission.

“By way of the variety of companies who’ve utilized to hitch the minister and are available and have a look at export alternatives right here, it’ll be the largest … [trade mission] we’ve ever completed,” mentioned the ambassador, who arrived in Mexico in 2024 after serving as Canada’s excessive commissioner in India.

Such is the curiosity in taking part within the commerce mission from the Canadian enterprise group that there is probably not sufficient room for all candidates, Mackay mentioned.

“There’s solely a lot logistical capability. We actually need to guarantee that the companies themselves are export-ready,” he mentioned.

The Feb. 15-20 commerce mission will deal with alternatives within the agriculture, superior manufacturing, data communications expertise and clear power sectors, in addition to artistic industries.

The mission will happen only a few months earlier than Mexico, Canada and the US provoke a proper evaluation of the USMCA, the North American free commerce pact that outdated NAFTA in 2020.

Throughout Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s go to to Mexico Metropolis in September, Mexico and Canada pledged to deepen ties and work to strengthen the free commerce pact they share with the US. Carney additionally met with President Claudia Sheinbaum on the G7 Summit in Canada in June and at this month’s World Cup attract Washington, D.C., the place the 2 leaders sat down with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The worth of commerce between Mexico and Canada is dwarfed by the worth of commerce between each Mexico and the US, and Canada and the U.S.

However Mexico-Canada commerce has grown considerably within the three a long time since NAFTA took impact. Two-way commerce was value virtually CAD $56 billion (US $40.75 billion) in 2024, in response to the Canadian authorities, up from lower than CAD $5 billion earlier than NAFTA entered into pressure in 1994.

Based on the Mexican authorities, Mexico’s high export to Canada final yr was motor vehicles, whereas its high import from Canada was auto elements. The 2 international locations export a variety of different merchandise to one another, together with agricultural merchandise and numerous intermediate items.

Canada is the most important overseas investor in Mexico’s mining sector, whereas overseas direct funding of Canadian economies throughout the Mexican financial system totaled greater than US $3 billion final yr. Canada ranked because the fourth greatest overseas investor in Mexico in 2024 behind the US, Japan and Germany.

Networking, enterprise briefings and website visits 

Based on the Canadian authorities, the commerce mission to Mexico will embrace “networking alternatives with Minister LeBlanc and Mexican enterprise leaders” in addition to “on-site enterprise briefings by our Commerce Commissioners, senior officers and key native trade consultants” and “sector-specific website visits.”

For representatives from small and medium-sized Canadian enterprises, there will even be a chance for “pre-arranged business-to-business conferences.”

All members will go to Mexico Metropolis and a second metropolis — both Monterrey or Guadalajara — relying on their sector.

The Canadian authorities mentioned that the commerce mission to Mexico was organized as a result of “Mexico gives a compelling worth proposition for Canadian exporters.”

It famous that the USMCA (referred to as CUSMA in Canada and T-MEC in Mexico) and the Complete and Progressive Settlement for Trans-Pacific Partnership “present Canadian companies with vital benefits, together with tariff-free entry for 99% of Canada-Mexico traded items, streamlined customs procedures [and] enhanced funding protections.”

Contemplating commerce tensions with the US, “Canada and Mexico will want one another greater than we ever have,” Ambassador Mackay informed CBC Information.

“We need to be working collectively and attempting to unravel issues collectively,” he mentioned.

“With the strain that’s on the Canadian enterprise group now, I might say there’s by no means been a greater alternative and extra motivation for Canadian companies to consider increasing and taking a look at whether or not Mexico is an effective marketplace for them,” the ambassador added.

* MORE ON THE MEXICO-CANADA RELATIONSHIP:

In 2024, Mexico Information Each day revealed a “Canada in Focus” collection specializing in totally different points of the Mexico-Canada relationship. Listed below are hyperlinks to 3 of the articles from that collection:

With reviews from CBC Information