Canadian ministers in Mexico to boost trade ties amid tensions with US

​​​​​​​By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Canada's Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand are in Mexico this week to strengthen trade ties as Ottawa seeks to diversify economic partnerships amid growing tensions with the US, according to a report Tuesday.

Citing senior Canadian government sources, CBC News reported that the two-day visit includes a meeting Tuesday with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, part of an effort to deepen the relationship with Mexico.

"The meetings will be constructive … looking at markets, looking at diversification, looking at strengthening our partnership with our Mexican colleagues," Champagne told Radio-Canada on Monday.

Carney and Sheinbaum last met in June at the G7 Summit in Alberta, where they agreed to "deepen bilateral collaboration at the ministerial level."

Champagne is also meeting with Canadian stakeholders in Mexico's aerospace, energy and banking sectors.

Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's former ambassador to the US, told CBC that it is time for greater alignment between Ottawa and Mexico City. "There's really been very little engagement… vis-a-vis a common trade partner that is eviscerating all the rules of trade," he said.

The visit underscores Canada's push to strengthen the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement as a unified bloc.