A significant Mexican trade delegation to Canada kicked off on Thursday, with more than 200 Mexican companies seeking to enhance commercial ties during a two-day event in two cities, featuring discussions on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The mission began in Toronto and will later head to Montreal. While it is one of Mexico’s largest delegations to Canada, it is a condensed version of the original plan, which also included Vancouver as a stop.
During the opening speech, Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc emphasized the strong economic bond and shared values between Canada and Mexico, aiming to boost North America’s competitiveness and resilience.
Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard expressed Mexico’s interest in strengthening ties with Canada for the long term, citing the evolving global landscape and the need to align with like-minded countries.
With over 240 Mexican businesses participating and more than 1,000 business meetings scheduled, Mexico aims to diversify its trade partnerships, including with Canada, amid trade uncertainties and tariff challenges globally.
Fernando Vargas, CEO of Bloom White Label Partners, highlighted the mutual interest in collaboration between Mexico and Canada, noting the strategic alignment in time zones and their joint hosting of the World Cup.
The trade mission presents an opportunity for Vargas’s startup to expand its Canadian business operations. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between the two nations for mutual benefit.
LeBlanc and Ebrard discussed common economic challenges over dinner, with further talks expected on CUSMA during the visit. Ebrard plans to engage with key Canadian companies and investment funds to enhance trade and investment flows between the two countries.
The visit follows a successful Canadian trade mission to Mexico earlier in the year, resulting in new business deals. Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Mexico totaled $62 billion in 2025, showing significant growth in Mexican exports to Canada since the NAFTA era.
Luis Arzani, Chief Commercial Officer for Grupo Xpress Internacional, hopes the trade mission will facilitate direct trade relations with Canadian partners, reducing reliance on U.S. intermediaries and streamlining logistics operations.
Armando Ortega, President of the Mexico-Canada bilateral committee, emphasized the need for Mexican capital to tap into the Canadian market, viewing it as a transformative step in enhancing economic ties between the two nations.
Ortega, drawing from his experience in NAFTA negotiations, stressed the importance of collaborative approaches in the review of CUSMA, advocating for balanced discussions and mutual agendas between trading partners to achieve successful outcomes.