Mexico rejects separate U.S. trade deal, Stands by Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement

Mexico says it is not interested in pursuing a separate trade agreement with the United States if it would mean leaving Canada out of the trilateral trade framework.

Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco Álvarez said Friday that the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) remains a three-country agreement and that all members are committed to maintaining its structure.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Ottawa with Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Velasco was asked whether Mexico would consider negotiating a separate trade deal with Washington.

He rejected the idea, saying that all three countries have their own bilateral issues to address but that CUSMA’s trilateral nature should continue.

“CUSMA is a trilateral agreement, and of course the three countries agree that this architecture should continue,” Velasco said.

Mexico has already conducted several rounds of official trade discussions with the United States and is viewed as being further ahead than Canada in some areas of negotiations.

Canadian officials continue to engage with both Mexico and the U.S. to protect Canada’s interests and ensure the long-term stability of the North American trade relationship.