As Canada navigates an increasingly complex global trade environment, one message from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has become unmistakably clear - it’s time to think bigger about Mexico. The combination of a historic trade mission, renewed political cooperation, and a surge in bilateral business interest is ushering in a new era of opportunity for Canadian companies.

The recent news release from the Canadian Chamber, related to their recent trade mission, paints a compelling picture of why this moment is pivotal.

On February 14, 2026, the Canadian Chamber announced a major expansion of its engagement with Mexico’s business community, reinforcing a long‑term commitment to strengthening bilateral trade. The Chamber, working in partnership with CanCham Mexico, is intensifying efforts to help businesses - especially SMEs - build awareness, connections, and market expertise in one another’s economies. 

This collaboration is running in parallel with the Government of Canada’s official Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico. The Chamber’s own delegation includes leaders from mining, energy, agriculture, transportation, tech, life sciences, legal and financial services, and chambers of commerce from across the country - all seeking new business pathways in a diversifying global trade climate.

Despite more than 30 years of continental free trade, Canada sends only 1.1 percent of its exports to Mexico, a number that Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, Senior Vice President of International Policy and Global Partnerships, calls a sign of untapped potential. Deepening Canada’s business relationships with Mexico, she emphasizes, isn’t just logical - it’s essential to Canada’s diversification strategy. [chamber.ca]

Why This Moment Matters: The Strategic Case for Betting Bigger on Mexico

The Chamber’s newly published op-ed, Canada Should Bet Bigger on Mexico, lays out the economic and geopolitical rationale for elevating Mexico as a top-tier trade priority. With federal minister Dominic LeBlanc leading the largest Team Canada Trade Mission in history, Canada is making tangible strides toward realizing the ambitions of the Canada-Mexico Action Plan, a three-year collaboration aimed at unlocking strategic opportunities in technology, energy, critical minerals, agriculture, and more.

While Mexico is often described as Canada’s third-largest trading partner, the actual trade volume remains modest in relation to the opportunity. Export Development Canada has identified Mexico as a significantly underutilized market - one that offers substantial room for Canadian companies to grow. 

But the urgency is not just economic; it’s strategic. With the U.S. imposing tariffs, calling trade agreements “irrelevant,” and introducing uncertainty into CUSMA’s future, Canada can no longer rely predominantly on one trading partner. The Chamber’s op-ed underscores that hope is not a strategy - diversification is a necessity. 

Strengthening ties with Mexico helps Canada:

• Offset U.S. trade volatility by opening alternative continental supply chain routes.
• Build resilience ahead of the 2026 CUSMA review.
• Create new paths for investment, innovation, and sectoral growth that support long-term competitiveness.

A Partnership Built for the Future

Canada and Mexico are entering a new phase of cooperation anchored in shared goals - enhancing trade, building infrastructure, supporting supply chain security, and fostering innovation. This deepened relationship is further supported by the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership launched by Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Claudia Sheinbaum in September 2025, which aims to position North America as the world’s most competitive and dynamic economic region.

Both countries are moving swiftly to turn commitments into action. The Chamber’s business delegation traveling to Mexico in early 2026 exemplifies this momentum, focusing on converting partnership potential into concrete commercial opportunities. 

The Bottom Line: Now Is the Time to Think Bigger

Canada stands at a pivotal juncture. Deepening our relationship with Mexico is not simply good diplomacy - it’s sound strategy for long-term economic resilience, competitiveness, and growth.
As the Chamber notes, Canada must pair its efforts to safeguard CUSMA with bold steps to diversify its trade portfolio. The path forward is clear: betting bigger on Mexico means unlocking new markets, strengthening continental partnerships, and building a more resilient Canadian economy.

The opportunities are real, the momentum is strong, and Canadian businesses - large and small - are ready to move.

View the press release | Read the Op-Ed | Watch the CTV Interview | Check out other International Missions