Mexican foreign minister says trilateral trade talks will happen when 'appropriate'

Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Velasco Alvarez, left, looks on as Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa, Friday, July 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA — Mexico’s foreign affairs minister said Friday his government will engage in trilateral talks with the U.S. and Canada on the continental trade pact when “it’s appropriate.”

Roberto Velasco Alvarez, who was in Ottawa to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, was asked whether Mexico would consider making a bilateral agreement with the United States that leaves Canada behind.

“The (Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement) is a trilateral agreement,” Velasco responded. “And of course I think the three countries agree that that architecture should continue.”

The Trump administration opted not to renew the trade pact, better known in Canada as CUSMA, at the start of July. Mexico and Canada had both requested a 16-year extension.

The U.S. decision triggered rolling annual reviews for up to a decade, at which point the agreement will expire if the partners can’t agree on an extension.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has received pushback over his approach to trade negotiations from some opposition Conservatives who claim that Mexico is further ahead in trade talks.

Mexico and the U.S. are set to hold their third round of official negotiations next week, but Ottawa and the Trump administration have not started similar talks.

CUSMA was negotiated during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first administration to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

There were times during the tumultuous negotiations when Mexico and the United States were talking without Canada. Ultimately, all three countries signed the agreement and called it a success.

Velasco and Anand both said there are separate issues between the three countries that need to be negotiated bilaterally.

“There are many issues that their own nature is bilateral and because of that we need to work with the United States each to resolve them,” Velasco said. “Of course, when it’s appropriate, we have trilateral conversations.”

When asked whether the increasing share of Mexico’s EV market held by Chinese electric vehicle makers has become an obstacle to negotiations, Velasco said it’s part of CUSMA talks with the United States.

Carney’s move to allow a limited number of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada in exchange for tariff relief on agriculture goods has been roundly criticized by the Trump administration. 

The continental trade agreement has shielded Canada and Mexico from many of Trump’s tariffs but industries like steel, aluminum, automobiles and cabinetry are being slammed with separate duties.

Those sector-specific duties have been a key issue for Canada’s negotiators but Trump seems unwilling to shift his stance on the tariffs.

Canada’s trade and investment relationship with Mexico and the United States is important, Anand said.

“We’ll keep working on all fronts,” she said. “We will work hard on the bilateral relationship with Canada and the United States, and we’ll also work on the trilateral relationship.”

Trump officials have discussed wide-ranging issues with Mexico that are distinct from U.S. trade irritants with Canada.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday the “trade deficit in Mexico really is a challenge.” He said there are issues with Mexico regarding overcapacity, subsidies, unfair trading practices and monetary policy.

Greer also said he talks to his Canadian counterparts weekly but “we just haven’t seen a lot of movement.” 

While the Canada-U.S. relationship has been rocked by Trump’s tariffs and threats of annexation, the American architect of CUSMA said he’s not worried about the trade deficit with Canada.

Robert Lighthizer, the United States trade representative during the first Trump administration, said “there’s nothing wrong with having a trade deficit with someone who’s giving you energy.”

During a panel discussion at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado Thursday, Lighthizer said he had a lot of respect for Carney, calling him a “super person.” 

While the Canada-U.S. relationship has faced strain, Lighthizer said he believes it will recover.

“I think we come out of it because the fundamentals are so good between the United States and Canada,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2026.

By Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington, with files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa