So, like, Prime Minister Mark Carney is sooo not here for awkward vibes anymore. On Thursday, he jetted into Mexico City for a two-day bestie summit with President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace, and, omg, the drama they’re burying is chef’s kiss messy. Remember last year when Ontario Premier Doug Ford basically shaded Mexico, saying “To compare us to Mexico is the most insulting thing…”? Yeah, Mexicans were not amused. Plus, Canada slapped visas on Mexican visitors in February 2024, and former ambassador Graeme Clark low-key dragged Mexico’s judicial reforms. Awkward!
But Carney’s, like, over the bad blood. He even invited Sheinbaum to June’s G7 in Alberta as a pre-apology appetizer. Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, told reporters this trip is “a good start to mending fences” and will “go a long way to deepening ties and allowing the past to be the past.”
The tea? Both countries are sooo done with being Trump’s trade sidekicks. With U.S. tariffs wrecking Canadian exports (hello, 2025 slump!) and Mexico worried about dependency—70% of its natural gas comes from the U.S.—Carney and Sheinbaum are, like, “let’s diversify, babe.” Enter: a shiny Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on trade and security. Officials say it’ll spawn working groups on infrastructure, agriculture, health, energy, and emergency preparedness—basically a mega to-do list to keep trade flowing even if Trump throws another tariff tantrum.
The Interoceanic Corridor—the fab railway linking Salina Cruz on the Pacific to Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf—plus six modernized Mexican ports could, like, totally bypass the U.S. for Canada-Mexico shipping. A senior Canadian official spilled that port collabs are, like, top-tier on Carney’s agenda. Mexican insiders also wanna boost agricultural sales, tourism, and Canadian investment. And let’s not forget Canada’s LNG exports: Hyder said natural gas shipments could help Mexico avoid over-reliance on the U.S.
Big business is so in on the action—executives from Scotiabank, CPKC, TC Energy, Martinrea, ATCO, and more tagged along. Their presence screams: “Trade reset is serious, y’all.” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Minister Dominic LeBlanc are there, too, adding even more sparkle to this diplomatic glow-up.
And omg, the timing! The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement faces its five-year review in 2026. Both leaders wanna keep the pact stable—no chaotic rewrite. Carleton University’s Laura Macdonald said both governments would “prefer just to continue the existing agreement and hold firm against a complete review or rewriting.” Like, can we not relive NAFTA-gate, pls?
Mexico’s own Plan México industrial strategy mirrors Canada’s vibe: diversify before Trump’s protectionism nukes everyone’s supply chains. By doubling down on each other, Canada and Mexico could, like, majorly strengthen their economies while telling Washington, “We have options now, thanks.”
So yeah, Carney’s Mexico trip isn’t just tequila and selfies at the Zócalo—it’s a power move. If these two continental cuties stick to their partnership, they could totally blunt Trump’s tariffs, grow their economies, and maybe even make North America’s trade scene less, like, messy.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Where besties learn that smart trade is sooo much cuter when everyone benefits.
