The Canada-Mexico Partnership (CMP)

Canada and Mexico share a dynamic and prosperous relationship: as friends, as North American neighbours, and as strategic partners in the Americas and in the world. Over the years, our cooperation has expanded across a wide range of political, trade, social, environmental and security interests.

The Canada-Mexico Partnership has issued its 2021 Annual Report. It highlights the work and progress of this important mechanism over the period and outlines its goals for the year ahead.

Origins

The Canada-Mexico Partnership (CMP) is our key mechanism for bilateral cooperation. It serves as a catalyst for concerted action between our governments, private sectors, and non-governmental partners to pursue common goals and mutually beneficial priorities. It was launched in Ottawa in October 2004, the year marking the 60th anniversary of Canada-Mexico diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of NAFTA.

Coordination

The Canada-Mexico Partnership meets once a year, with meetings alternating between Canada and Mexico. The CMP is coordinated by senior public servants from Global Affairs Canada and from Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is no set membership of the CMP: rather, participation is determined by membership in one of the CMP’s 9 working groups. The groups are not fixed:  the CMP accommodates shifts of priorities within groups as well as the phasing out or creation of new groups.

Working groups (active in 2022) 

• Agri-business
• Culture and Creativity
• Energy
• Environment
• Foreign policy
• Forestry
• Human Capital
• Mining
• Trade, Investment and Innovation 

Working group membership

The CMP’s working groups bring together representatives from the public and private sectors. Each group is co-chaired by senior government officials from Canada and Mexico, and in some groups, by private sector leaders as well. The public sector is represented by individuals at both the federal and provincial/state levels while the private sector comprises members of business and industry associations, academic communities and other organizations.

Working group goals

Each group develops its own goals and work plan and meets to advance its objectives on an as-needed basis. An annual CMP meeting brings together all working groups to take stock of progress, highlight results and set new priorities.

2022 annual meeting

The 18th Annual Meeting of the Canada-Mexico Partnership took place on Thursday November 24, 2022. The Annual Meeting was held in a hybrid format with the national co-chairs and their delegations meeting in-person in Ottawa while the working groups met virtually.

This year, the Annual Meeting included a horizontal theme on Indigenous cooperation. The Canada-Mexico Youth Lab equally had the opportunity to participate in the annual meeting and present their recommendations for the second year.

The Foreign Policy Working Group participated in its first Annual Meeting since its creation this year. The group presented the Canada-Mexico Action Plan, a comprehensive guide identifying priorities for the future of the bilateral relationship, to the plenary which was endorsed by the national co-chairs.