Report

From January 13 to 15, 2026, the Honourable Senator Michael MacDonald, Co-chair of the Canadian Section of the Canada–United States (U.S.) Inter-Parliamentary Group (the Group), led a delegation of parliamentarians on a mission to Mexico City, Mexico, to participate in CUSMA-focused discussions and to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Alliance For Supply Chain Connectivity Regional Roundtable and the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) North American Government and Industry Roundtable. The other delegates were the Honourable Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain, the Honourable Ali Ehsassi, M.P., Chris Lewis, M.P., and Simon-Pierre Savard Tremblay, M.P. Association staff accompanying the conference were Alison Brown, Secretary, and Marie Dumont, Advisor.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CANADA-UNITED STATES INTER-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

The Group aims to find points of convergence in respective national policies, to initiate dialogue on points of divergence, to encourage the exchange of information and to promote better understanding among legislators on shared issues of concern. Members of the Group’s Canadian Section meet regularly with their U.S. federal counterparts and attend meetings of state governors and legislators.

In recognition of Mexico’s role in the North American partnership, the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group visited Mexico City for the first time to engage directly with Mexican legislators, government officials and industry leaders involved in the trilateral relationship.

2026 is a pivotal moment for North America. With the upcoming Canada-United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, TMEC or USMCA) joint review in July 2026, the Group considers trilateral cooperation among Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to be essential in ensuring that the agreement continues to support competitiveness, resilience and shared prosperity across the region.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE MISSION TO MEXICO CITY

The Canada–U.S. IPG organized the mission to Mexico City around two anchor events, the APEC Alliance For Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2) Regional Roundtable, hosted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the NASCO North American Government and Industry Roundtable at the Embassy of Canada to Mexico in Mexico City. Additional activities included the following:

• a meeting with Oscar Augusto Del Cueto Cuevas, President and Executive Representative of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Mexico

• a discussion with Kevin Doyle, Director of International Policy, National Association of Manufacturers.

• a conversation with Cameron MacKay, Ambassador of Canada to Mexico

• the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Mexico event, Mexico 2028: Welcoming Mexico’s APEC Host Year.

• a private meeting and televised discussion with Senator Alejandro Murat and other members of the Senate of Mexico.

• a discussion with Kenneth Smith Ramos, Partner, Agon, and formerly Mexico´s Chief Negotiator for the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement; and

• a meeting with members of the Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana (COPARMEX) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Mexico.

This section provides detailed information about some of these events below

APEC Alliance For Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2) Regional Roundtable

On 13 January 2026, delegates attended the APEC Alliance For Supply Chain Connectivity Regional Roundtable, which brought together 37 private sector companies, a record level of attendance for such an APEC event. Following opening remarks from Hilary Renner, Economic Counsellor, U.S. Embassy Mexico, delegates attended panel sessions about digitalizing the supply chain, interoperability and standardization, and an industry spotlight featuring experts from the retail, chemical and semiconductor industries. Speakers emphasized that the global economy is at a pivotal moment with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and nuclear robotics offering the possibility of an immense expansion in productivity. In this period of change, digitalizing the supply chain is essential.

Speakers highlighted that nearly a decade has passed since the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade Facilitation entered into force. They discussed the role of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, a public-private partnership to support low- and middle-income countries in streamlining trade processes to adhere to the Agreement on Trade Facilitation. Speakers underscored the importance of simple, fast and cost-effective trading systems, which the Global Alliance aims to support.

Speakers also drew attention to the growing requirements from regulators within the global trading system. Regulators are increasingly seeking more data on issues such as forced labour, environmental compliance and other sustainability requirements, which requires digitalization, data sharing and trust between systems. Speakers emphasized that data sharing remains a barrier to efficiency, but change should be incremental and phased.

Meeting with Oscar Augusto del Cueto Cuevas, President and Executive Representative, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Mexico

Established in 2023 with the merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is the first and only single-line railway that connects Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. It offers end-to-end transportation logistics for shippers, serving grain, energy, chemicals, plastics, automotive, and the forest and industrial products sectors. Its global headquarters are in Calgary, Alberta.

Since August 2020, Oscar Del Cueto Cuevas has served as the President and Executive Representative of CPKC Mexico. In a meeting with him, delegates discussed the regulatory challenges that affect trade between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. He noted that Mexico was the fourth-largest auto parts manufacturer and exporter in the world in 2024 and explained that conducting inspections for auto parts at both the U.S.–Mexico and U.S.–Canada borders is inefficient.

Mr. Del Cueto Cuevas highlighted that in September 2025, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the CPKC chief executive officer, Keith Creel, at a grain terminal in Mexico City to mark the arrival of a train unit carrying wheat that was grown in Manitoba. This expansion highlights the possibilities for increased trade between Canada and Mexico, facilitated by CPKC’s rail network.

Conversation with Cameron MacKay, Ambassador of Canada to Mexico

Ambassador Cameron MacKay is a seasoned member of Canada’s diplomatic core who was appointed to the post of Ambassador of Canada to Mexico in December 2024. Ambassador MacKay warmly welcomed the Group’s first mission to Mexico City, noting its timeliness and value leading to the CUSMA review in July 2026. During his conversation with the delegation, Ambassador MacKay shared insights on the trilateral relationship, with a focus on the evolving dynamic between Canada and Mexico, as well as their shared partnership with the U.S. and continued economic interdependence. He drew particular attention to opportunities to strengthen regional ties between Canada and Mexico while navigating increased uncertainties with the U.S. at a sensitive juncture in the trilateral relationship.

Discussion with Kevin Doyle, Director of International Policy, National Association of Manufacturers

The National Association of Manufacturers is a U.S.-based advocate for manufacturing companies that was founded in 1895. Kevin Doyle, the Director of International Policy shared the results of the association’s 2025 Fourth Quarter Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, which reported that 80.3% of manufacturers had paid tariffs on imported manufacturing inputs in 2025, representing 72.8% of small and medium manufacturers, and 97% of large manufacturers. He advocated for a strengthening of the CUSMA, noting that the agreement had benefitted the manufacturing sector.

American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Mexico event, Mexico 2028: Welcoming Mexico’s APEC Host Year

AMCHAM was founded in 1917 in Mexico City to facilitate trade between businesses in Mexico and the U.S. According to AMCHAM, it represents organizations that output 8.5 million formal jobs, 21% of Mexico’s national gross domestic product (GDP) and 20% of private investment in Mexico. AMCHAM convened an afternoon of panel discussions about the opportunities in Mexico, North American Trade, and the global outlook for customs and trade facilitation as Mexico looks ahead to hosting APEC in 2028. APEC is comprised of 21 member economies: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Japan; South Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; the Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei (Taiwan); Thailand; the U.S.; and Viet Nam. Collectively, these nations represent 61% of global GDP and 47% of the world’s trade. In 1989, Canada and the U.S. were founding members of APEC; Mexico joined in 1993. China will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting for 2026, followed by Viet Nam in 2027 and Mexico in 2028. Canada has offered to host APEC for 2029.

Public Session with Senator Alejandro Murat Hinojosa and members of the Senate of Mexico

Senator Alejandro Murat Hinojosa, President of the Mexican Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, hosted the members of the Group for a public session with other members of the Mexican Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, as well as members of the T-MEC Follow-Up Committee, and the Economy Committee.

The Canadian delegation stated that both countries would benefit from closer collaboration among North America’s business communities. They also noted shared priorities on sovereignty and security, and acknowledged distinct regional contexts, with Canada focused on Arctic sovereignty and Mexico on the Caribbean.

Concerning the upcoming CUSMA review, Senator Murat outlined Mexico’s ongoing consultations with over 31 sectors, including the automotive sector, which is highly integrated between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. He pointed out Mexico’s initiatives to strengthen CUSMA, including implementing tariff increases on trading partners with which Mexico does not have a free trade agreement as of 1 January 2026. He also drew attention to the agreement’s Rapid Response Labour Mechanism, which is an enforcement tool for Canada and the U.S. for labour violations in Mexican facilities, and stressed the importance of the common dispute settlement mechanisms.

The Canadian delegation emphasized that the upcoming CUSMA review must remain a review, and not a renegotiation. Both Canadian and Mexican lawmakers acknowledged that the U.S. has been a larger trading partner for both countries, but that enhancing trade and investment between Canada and Mexico would be beneficial. The possibility of a future bilateral interparliamentary meeting between Canada and Mexico as a platform for continued dialogue received enthusiasm from the members of Mexico’s Senate.

Discussion with Kenneth Smith Ramos, Partner, Agon, and formerly Mexico´s Chief Negotiator for the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement

The delegation met with Kenneth Smith Ramos, co-chair for Mexico of the Coalition for North American Trade, and Mexico’s former chief negotiator for the CUSMA. He is also currently a partner at Agon, a full service antitrust and regulatory advice firm based in Mexico City. In February 2025, Mr. Smith Ramos launched the Coalition for North American Trade initiative with former U.S. member of congress Kevin Brady and Canada’s former chief trade negotiator Steve Verheul. The Coalition is an alliance of businesses, trade associations, non‑governmental organizations, think tanks, scholars and other stakeholders committed to extending the CUSMA. Its activities focus on advocacy efforts directly with the governments of the three countries; publishing press releases, letters, op-eds, and other media products; and organizing events, speeches, panels, and webinars promoting CUSMA and its economic advantages.

Mr. Smith Ramos emphasized the importance of maintaining CUSMA as a trilateral agreement. He pointed out that Mexico’s former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador had cautiously supported the agreement. During his tenure, 80% of Mexican citizens who were polled had a positive view of the agreement. President Claudia Sheinbaum has been a proponent of maintaining CUSMA. Her approach to working with the U.S. administration has involved prudence and taking time before responding. He suggested that Canada and Mexico are better served by not rushing towards an incomplete trade agreement.

NASCO North American Government and Industry Roundtable

The delegates had the opportunity to speak in a panel discussion with Hillary Renner, Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Mexico City and Jesus Salvador Gonzalez Martinez Secretary of Economic Development, Government of the State of San Luis Potosi, at the NASCO North American Government and Industry Roundtable hosted at the Embassy of Canada to Mexico.

The Honourable Senator Michael MacDonald shared the importance of the Group’s first visit to Mexico, recognizing the central role of Mexico in the North American partnership. He suggested that there are opportunities to increase Mexico’s foreign direct investment in Canada. In 2024, Mexico’s foreign direct investment in Canada was valued at C$2.7 billion while Canada’s foreign direct investment in Mexico was valued at C$46.3 billion.

The Honourable Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain highlighted the warm reception that the delegation received from Senator Alejandro Murat and members of the Senate of Mexico. Their interest in meeting with the delegation reflects the importance of Mexico’s relationship with Canada in advance of the 2026 CUSMA review. She noted that the delegation learned the importance of regulatory clarity and consistency to benefit businesses operating in the three countries. When legislators and regulators seek to uplift standards through regulations, changes should be implemented at a pace that businesses can handle.

The Honourable Ali Ehsassi noted that the upcoming Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico in February 2026 would be one of the largest trade missions that Canada has deployed to another country. It would build on the Canada-Mexico Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, launched in September 2025 by Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Claudia Sheinbaum. The strategic partnership elevates bilateral ties beyond the existing CUSMA to foster deeper cooperation in trade, energy, security and sustainability.

Mr. Chris Lewis commented on the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Canada, which was established 50 years ago. In 2024, nearly 25,000 Mexican workers participated in the program. Also, as a member of Parliament for an Essex, a riding that borders the U.S., he spoke about the importance of automotive trade. The automotive sector directly and indirectly employs 603,500 workers in Canada, according to the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association.

Mr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay drew attention to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s opening statement  reported to the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee on 16 and 17 December 2025, which offered insights about the U.S. administration’s preoccupations concerning Canada and Mexico. Improving the implementation of forced labour import bans in Canada and Mexico was a priority issue raised in this statement, and combatting forced labour is an issue that requires the involvement of legislators and industry.

Meeting with members of the Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana (COPARMEX) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Mexico

The delegation met with Fernando Treviño, Vice President of International and Labor Affairs, and Angel García-Lascurain, National Vice President for Economic Development for COPARMEX, a voluntary, independent and non-partisan employers’ association, and Carla Bustillos, Director General of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Mexico. Members of COPARMEX acknowledged the importance of the upcoming CUSMA review, while raising challenges that Mexican businesses face in the country, including insecurity, issues with the rule of law, corruption, bribery and extortion.

Ms. Bustillos highlighted that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico includes 270 members. She raised the issue that many Canadian and Mexican businesses have not had the opportunity to meet and was looking forward to the upcoming Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico.

Travel Expenses

Travel expenses associated with this activity can be found in the delegation’s financial report. This report is available in the Financial Disclosure section of the Parliamentary Diplomacy website.