Good afternoon. Buenas tardes.
President Sheinbaum, thank you for your hospitality. It’s a pleasure to be with you again.
As G7 President, my first invitation to this year’s G7 Leaders’ Summit was to President Sheinbaum, as a reflection of the importance of the Canadian-Mexican relationship and the value of your counsel.
Madame President, I deeply appreciated your attendance and the impact of your contributions.
I also thank you for the incredible soccer ball crafted by the Wixárika community, whose beautiful beadwork represents the inclusivity of Indigenous Peoples and the interconnectedness of our nations.
The gift sits in my office and serves as a reminder that the World Cup is about more than the game – but about what unites us: inclusion, cooperation, and respect across cultures and communities.
My invitation to President Sheinbaum reflects Mexico’s essential role and its growing impact on the rapidly changing global economy, and is an immediate opportunity to start strengthening the deep and historic friendship between Canada and Mexico.
In our conversation at the G7, we spoke about the many opportunities to work together.
How to elevate our already strong relationship to strengthen this deep and historic friendship.
Canada and Mexico have had diplomatic ties for over 80 years and free trade for over 30 years.
Our partnership has improved the livelihoods of our workers and helped make North America the economic envy of the world.
We are both committed to our shared partnership with the United States and look forward to using the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) to find ways to make it fairer and more effective.
Today, after 30 years, Mexico is Canada’s third-largest bilateral merchandise trading partner. Team Canada looks forward to sharing the field with Mexico at next year’s FIFA World Cup, and to further strengthening our ties through our love of the game.
We buy and sell to each other’s strengths.
And in times of crisis and challenge, we stand united.
We’re acting together to protect our communities from the scourge of fentanyl.
And we help each other when disaster strikes.
Earlier this summer, Mexican firefighters deployed to Manitoba to battle devastating wildfires. They saved Canadian lives, and they protected our communities.
And on behalf of all Canadians – thank you.
With CUSMA, Canada and Mexico have reinforced the foundations of our trading relationship.
We have enabled our businesses to build even more together, and we have created new jobs for our citizens and the financial resources we need to foster social justice and sustainability.
And now, the global economy is going through a period of profound change.
Supply chains are fragmenting.
Capital is moving in search of reliable and sustainable returns.
Climate change is a daily risk for businesses, workers, and communities.
At this hinge moment, Canada is deepening our relationships with our longstanding partners – partners that share our values and aspire to a better, fairer, more sustainable future.
Mexico is central to this mission.
Our agreement today will expand and deepen our partnership so that the next 30 years hold even greater promise than the past 30 have delivered.
Today, we are beginning a new era of elevated cooperation with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
We will scale up engagement on foreign affairs, trade and investment, agriculture, natural resources, energy, finance, health, the environment, and public safety and security.
This means closer collaboration and quicker results in priority sectors in order to grow our economies.
Our Strategic Partnership is anchored in the new Canada-Mexico Action Plan, structured around four pillars: prosperity, security, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Our blueprint to build together.
To promote mutual prosperity, we will prioritise the development of strategic infrastructure, including ports, rail, and energy corridors.
We will unlock new opportunities for trade and investment – from energy to critical minerals and agriculture.
We will collaborate bilaterally, and with the United States, to reinforce the strong foundation of our economic integration and regulatory cooperation, with a view to making North America the most competitive region in the world.
We will cooperate on innovation, conduct joint research, and fast track strategic technologies to address global challenges, including the development of renewable energy and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
We will strengthen the integration of the agri-food value chains and increase bilateral trade in safe and secure agricultural products.
Canada and Mexico will also strengthen our model of controlled, predictable labour migration to meet the unique needs of agriculture, seafood, and food processing sectors in both our countries.
As part of our new Action Plan, we will create a new bilateral security dialogue to combat transnational organised crime, human smuggling, and cybercrime.
While we have made major progress over the past year, fentanyl and drug trafficking still threaten both our countries. So, we have agreed to scale up our joint intelligence efforts to dismantle these criminal networks.
To promote inclusivity and well-being, we will work together to foster competitive economies grounded in fair, safe, and equitable work environments. We will enhance cooperation in health policy, including addressing health security, infectious diseases, and substance abuse.
We will share learnings and best practices on Indigenous economic empowerment as cornerstones of inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and social cohesion.
Both President Sheinbaum and I have long recognised that addressing climate change is both a moral duty and a commercial imperative.
Accordingly, Canada and Mexico will deepen cooperation in climate and conservation – with action to protect wildlife, reduce emissions, and sustainably manage freshwater resources.
We will explore major cooperation opportunities in emissions reductions, investments in renewables, and the development of smart grids.
Our ministers and officials will begin working straight away on this ambitious Action Plan.
For example, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food will visit Mexico next month to discuss opportunities in agricultural trade.
And Minister Leblanc will undertake a trade mission to Mexico shortly after to develop immediate opportunities in bilateral trade and investment.
And, in just nine months, the world’s game will come to our continent as Canada, Mexico, and the United States co-host the FIFA World Cup. Forty-eight nations, 16 cities, millions of fans – the biggest tournament in history.
For Mexico, it’s a return to greatness. It’s your third time hosting the World Cup after two tournaments filled with iconic moments: Pelé lifting the trophy in the Azteca in 1970, Maradona scoring one of the goals of the century in 1986, and “The Hand of God” scoring the other.
The economic boost from the World Cup to both our nations will go far beyond the field.
Millions of visitors. More customers and revenue for our hotels, restaurants, local shops, small businesses.
Two billion dollars added to the Canadian economy alone.
Infrastructure that will serve our people long after the Jules Rimet trophy is lifted.
Our cultures showcased on the biggest stage in the world.
And in a divided world, we can be united in our love of the game.
I am pleased to share that Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport, will serve as Canada’s FIFA Sherpa to support cooperation ahead of the World Cup.
In Canada, we are undergoing a massive transformation – launching major nation-building projects, building millions of homes, and deepening our international partnerships.
Under President Sheinbaum’s leadership, Mexico is driving a similar transformation – bold, ambitious, and focused on delivery, social justice, and sustainability.
Our efforts will be strengthened by working together.
As President Sheinbaum said at the G7 Leaders’ Summit, “in an interdependent world, no country can isolate itself.”
And as your predecessor, President Benito Juárez, counselled: “Entre los individuos, como entre las Naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz.”
“Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.”
It is by balancing this respect for sovereignty and the belief in cooperation that Canada and Mexico will build together for the benefit of our peoples.
Just as we cooperate to celebrate fútbol on the pitch, we’ll play to our strengths – to defend when there’s pressure, to pass into space, and to score a North American win.
Thank you. Gracias.