Prime Minister Carney Speaks with Mexico’s President Sheinbaum Amid Wildfire Cooperation and Economic Ties

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum connected this week to discuss continued collaboration between Canada and Mexico, just days after Mexican firefighters joined Canadian efforts to battle intense wildfires in Manitoba.

During the call on July 15, Carney expressed his deep gratitude to President Sheinbaum for the swift support Mexico has provided, including deploying fire crews to assist with evacuations and containment in Garden Hill First Nation and other affected communities.

The conversation also focused on deepening Canada-Mexico ties, following up on productive talks from the June G7 Summit in Kananaskis. The leaders emphasized their mutual commitment to enhancing both countries’ competitiveness and shared prosperity through strengthened economic and cultural ties.

A Decades-Long Partnership

Canada and Mexico have maintained more than 80 years of diplomatic relations. The nations continue to collaborate across a broad spectrum—from trade and security to education and labour mobility. In 2024, two-way merchandise trade between the countries reached nearly $56 billion, making Mexico Canada’s third-largest trading partner.

Mexican workers also play a vital role in Canada’s economy. Over 52,000 arrived in 2024 through the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and International Mobility Program, with 26,000 participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). At the same time, Canadian direct investment in Mexico climbed to $46.4 billion last year.

Tourism and education are also key links. Over 2.6 million Canadians visited Mexico in 2024, while nearly 15,000 Mexican students studied in Canada—the highest number from the Americas.

Regional and Global Cooperation

Carney and Sheinbaum reaffirmed the importance of regional unity through mechanisms like the North American Leaders’ Summit and trilateral partnerships with the United States. The leaders also acknowledged Canada and Mexico’s shared work in global forums such as the G20, United Nations, OECD, and Pacific Alliance.

Their call reinforced a clear message: both countries are committed to building a more integrated, sustainable, and resilient North American economy—while remaining strong partners in times of crisis.

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