Toronto, (EFE) .- The Foreign and Finance Ministers of Canada, Anita Anand and François-Philippe Champagne, respectively, told President Claudia Sheinbaum the great importance that for Ottawa has the bilateral relationship and the TMEC treaty.
Anand and Champagne’s trip occurs shortly after President Donald Trump imposed 35% tariffs on Canadian exports not included in the TMEC and at the same time grant an extension of 90 days to Mexico to continue negotiating a bilateral trade agreement.
Also at the beginning of the year, the then Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and other prominent politicians of the country expressed their willingness to exclude Mexico from the TMEC to prevent Trump from imposing tariffs on Canadian exports.
“The message we have transmitted today is that the bilateral relationship between Canada and Mexico is of the utmost importance for Canada, and that, from the perspective of our economic security in North America, having a process established for the TMEC is also extremely important,” Anand said in a press conference with media in Canada after his meeting with Sheinbaum.
Soser context:
Mexico and Canada meet to reinforce relationship, in the middle of tariff war with the US
Asked about the last statements of Trudeau, Anand highlighted the good relationship that President Sheinbaum established with Prime Minister Mark Carney during the recent G7 summit held in June in Canada and insisted that Mexico is key to the Canadian government.
“It is a relationship that is extremely important for Canada. But we also recognize that Mexico plays a very relevant role in the global economy. And we want to ensure, from the Canadian perspective, that we are recognizing that role and taking advantage of it,” he said.
Minister Champagne declared that this importance is reflected in the visit that the two are making to Mexico.
“It transmits a very strong message to have foreign and finance ministers visiting the country. I think the message has been clearly understood by Mexico,” he said.
Champagne also stressed that the combined GDP of Canada and Mexico approaches four billion US dollars and their populations represent half of that of the United States, which is an “opportunity” in their strategic relationship with Washington.
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