Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025-2028

Canada and Mexico share over 81 years of diplomatic relations, 31 years of free trade and 21 years of cooperation under the Canada-Mexico Partnership. A resilient and forward-looking bilateral relationship depends on strong, sustained engagement between both governments. As such, cooperation between both countries will now be elevated and reforged into the Canada-Mexico Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In the context of this new elevated relationship, the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, and the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, present the Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025-2028, which will serve as the roadmap to identify priorities and guide strategic actions for the bilateral relationship. The new Canada-Mexico Action Plan is structured around four strategic pillars—Prosperity; Mobility, Inclusivity and Well-being; Security; and Environment and Sustainability—reflecting the shared priorities that will shape a forward-looking, resilient, and dynamic bilateral relationship.

To support this new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Canada and Mexico are committing to frequent meetings and communication at the highest level and at the Minister and Secretary-level, including amongst others: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Agriculture, Energy, Natural Resources, Finance, Public Safety and Environment. A joint continuous evaluation will also be conducted to ensure the tracking of progress on achievements across each of the four thematic pillars. Based on the Action Plan, the structure of the Mexico-Canada Partnership will be expanded and strengthened to address evolving needs for joint actions.

I. Prosperity

As global economic dynamics shift, Canada and Mexico recognize the importance of deepening commercial ties to ensure our economies are prosperous, inclusive, and resilient. In this context, Canada and Mexico will focus their efforts on the following priority areas:

1. Trade Facilitation and Commercial Cooperation

Building on the extensive economic linkages, both countries recognize that trade facilitation is essential to reducing costs and boosting trade, as well as improving regional competitiveness and promoting economic growth. In light of the strong commercial relationship underpinned by CUSMA, Canada and Mexico will work to expand bilateral trade in economic sectors of mutual interest. This work will focus on inclusive and strategic trade promotion initiatives, and foster collaboration through information sharing, business-to-business connections, and supporting SMEs by identifying business opportunities and networking activities in order to boost competitiveness and access to new markets.

2. Investment Promotion

Both governments will collaborate to expand mutual investment opportunities, by facilitating communication channels on investment projects, discussing effective investment vehicles, providing assistance and problem-solving services for investors in both countries. Welcoming the continued success of the Canada-Mexico CEO Dialogue, both countries will leverage the robust networks linking our respective private sectors and continue to engage and consult them for strategic advice and expertise-sharing.

3. Trade Policy Cooperation

Reiterating the shared commitment to open and predictable markets, Canada and Mexico commit to collaborate bilaterally, and with the United States, to protect and foster the strong foundation of our economic integration and regulatory cooperation, while strengthening mutually beneficial supply chain linkages, with a view to continue making North America the most competitive region in the world.

4. Economic Security Collaboration

Canada and Mexico will collaborate to build a resilient supply chain that serves our joint national interests, drives economic growth, and responds to the demands of a rapidly evolving global trade environment, including in areas of health security and biomanufacturing. Specifically, Canada and Mexico will work to sign a new Memorandum of Collaboration on industrial health security and biomanufacturing between Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Mexico's Secretariat of Economy by end of 2025.  In addition, Canada will share best practices to support Mexico's development of a robust foreign investment screening framework, with a view to promote economic prosperity and collaborating on North America's regional economic security.

5. Collaboration on Ports

Canada and Mexico will collaborate on maritime corridors that could support integrated, cross-border trade and strengthen North America's ability to transport goods efficiently to international markets. A new Working Group on Maritime Connectivity will be created, which will include a focus on port-to-port connectivity, as well as connections to rail and road, and opportunities for enhancing port security, as well as increasing awareness of security vulnerabilities and best practices for greater regional security. Canada and Mexico will also work together on opportunities to increase digitalization to improve information flows and business processes, and exchange of best practices in the digitalization of port processes and cargo traceability platforms. Canada and Mexico commit to engaging economic stakeholders to share strategic information, innovations, and expertise on market and investment opportunities to better inform binational collaboration.

6. Innovation

Canada and Mexico commit to support increased government, industry and academic collaboration to boost innovation, promote joint research, and generate new ideas and talent, while fast-tracking strategic technology development to tackle shared global challenges with bold, collaborative solutions, including those addressing the responsible use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and other technologies that contribute to broader and safer digital transformation across industries, such as financial services. This will include engagement with our start-up communities to explore practical ways to scale-up and skill-up new technologies to help facilitate their entry into the global marketplace. As a first step, Canada and Mexico commit to signing a new Memorandum of Understanding on research collaboration between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and Mexico's Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation by March 31, 2026. This MOU will facilitate enhanced research cooperation and promote joint projects in interdisciplinary areas including energy transition, artificial intelligence, health technologies, Indigenous leadership in research, and research addressing social, cultural and economic development, among others.

7. Joint action in Integrated Trade and Energy Infrastructure

Canada and Mexico will explore opportunities for collaboration on long-term infrastructure development, including on energy corridors, that supports integrated, bilateral trade. Both countries commit to convening strategic government and industry dialogues that include energy infrastructure, renewable energy, clean hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage. A study tour will be organized to explore enhanced bilateral cooperation and reciprocal knowledge exchange.

8. Joint action in Sustainable Mining

Canada and Mexico will collaborate to support a sustainable mining development in both countries, to produce the mineral resources needed to support the green transition and sustainable technologies of the future.

9. Joint Action in Agriculture and Agri-food

Canada and Mexico are committed to identifying opportunities to strengthen the integration of their agrifood value chains and increase bilateral trade of safe and secure agricultural products.  Canada and Mexico will strengthen their regulatory cooperation and associated technical capabilities to facilitate commercial ties between their sectors and to highlight their complementarities.

To that end, Canada and Mexico will build on the Consultative Committee on Agriculture, and the Agri-Business Working Group. Both countries will make progress on the Canada-Mexico Sanitary and Phytosanitary Work Plan to improve market access for agricultural products for both countries for competitive, safe and quality products for consumers and processors. Likewise, Canada and Mexico will work towards mutual recognition of electronic certification for plant, animal, aquaculture, and fishing products.

Canada and Mexico will promote technical dialogues and joint efforts to advance climate-smart agricultural and livestock systems that incorporate biodiversity-friendly practices, strengthen traceability, and optimize water use in agriculture through innovative technologies.

II. Mobility, Inclusivity and Well-Being

Canada and Mexico acknowledge that strong people-to-people connections are the foundation of a resilient and inclusive bilateral relationship . Building on this shared understanding, both countries will advance joint actions that promote social inclusion, advance gender equality, promote the rights of populations in vulnerable situations, and foster equitable access to opportunities for our peoples.

1. Labour Mobility and Migration Cooperation

Canada and Mexico reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing safe, orderly, and regular migration across the Americas, recognizing the vital role both countries play in promoting regional stability and inclusive economic growth. Canada's relationship with Mexico through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), under which temporary workers from Mexico can come to Canada for a fixed period to work in primary agriculture on farms, spans over 50 years and remains a cornerstone of our bilateral partnership that is highly regarded internationally as a model of collaborative labour migration. This ongoing and close collaboration demonstrates both countries' commitment to ensuring the Program continues to function effectively in a framework of full respect of the human rights and dignity of workers.

2. Labour Cooperation

Building on shared labour priorities and existing international commitments, Canada and Mexico will continue to advance labour rights protections through targeted initiatives that promote workers' rights, strengthen labour justice institutions, improve social dialogue, and enhance compliance with international labour standards. Ongoing collaboration between Canada and Mexico on labour rights reinforces a shared commitment to foster competitive economies grounded in fair, safe and equitable work environments.

3. Health Policy and Well-Being Collaboration

Canada and Mexico will launch a series of Health Policy Dialogues to enhance bilateral cooperation, knowledge exchange, and coordination on key health priorities, including health security, infectious diseases; supply chains; regulation of health products; and healthy living. Other areas of continued collaboration include prevention of sexual and gender based violence, health services in Afro-descendent and Indigenous communities in Mexico, and Indigenous Peoples in Canada and sexual and reproductive health and rights. In parallel, both countries will work to address substance use, with a focus on opioid abuse among adolescents, including efforts to develop supportive guidelines for reintegration following incarceration. Canada and Mexico will foster the exchange of best practices in their respective healthcare systems. To this end, a study tour will be organized to strengthen bilateral cooperation and facilitate the reciprocal sharing of knowledge in this area.

4. Indigenous Peoples Collaboration and Economic Empowerment

Building on the momentum of the Memorandum of Understanding on Collaboration on Indigenous Priorities, Canada and Mexico recognize the importance of advancing Indigenous-led development, through self-determination and autonomy, as a cornerstone of inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and social cohesion. Another important priority for both Canada and Mexico is supporting the empowerment of Indigenous children and youth and recognizing their vital contributions. Canada and Mexico will continue to promote the economic empowerment of Indigenous women through existing mechanisms. In this context, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) has supported, and continues to support, Indigenous communities throughout Mexico in areas such as economic empowerment, media access, the promotion and protection of human rights, migration resilience, and political participation. Furthermore, the Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Indigenous Higher Education will serve as a key platform for deepening academic partnerships, advancing research collaboration, and strengthening institutional linkages in support of Indigenous post-secondary education. Canada and Mexico recognize the value of Indigenous Peoples' participation in activities under this Action Plan.

III. Security

Canada and Mexico recognize the importance of addressing, in accordance with their respective competencies, the security challenges in their respective territories. Based on this awareness, both countries will promote coordinated actions that contribute to strengthening strategic cooperation, operational effectiveness, and the protection of their populations against common threats.

1. Strengthen Bilateral Security Cooperation

Recognizing the shared priority of combatting transnational organized crime and keeping our populations safe, Canada and Mexico will establish a Bilateral Security Dialogue to deepen strategic collaboration and operational coordination in key areas. Specifically, both countries commit to strengthening joint efforts to disrupt the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including the trafficking of Fentanyl and chemical precursors of illegal synthetic drugs, firearms, and illicit goods, human trafficking, and money laundering, through enhanced law enforcement cooperation and information-sharing between border management and enforcement agencies. In support of the North American Drug Dialogue (NADD), Canada and Mexico will advance initiatives to monitor and share research on synthetic drug trends, bolster public health responses to drug demand, improve the traceability of weapons and illicit resources, and improve financial intelligence exchange, through safe communication channels, to target illicit financial flows linked to drug trafficking and organized criminal networks and seek asset recovery, all within each country's legal framework and in line with the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust, respect for sovereignty, and cooperation without subordination.

2. Cybersecurity

Recognizing the growing importance of global and digital threats, both countries will strengthen technical and policy collaboration in areas such as investigations against cybercrime, cyber patrols, joint campaigns to prevent digital fraud, and building national cyber resilience, in accordance with their respective institutional capacities. Additionally, both countries will seek to coordinate their positions in multilateral fora on cybersecurity and explore collaborative mechanisms, while respecting their respective legal frameworks and the competencies of each country within their own territories. Furthermore, the exchange of best practices in the protection of critical infrastructure, transportation systems and supply chains will be promoted, together with cyber-resilience protocols to ensure the continuity of essential operations in the face of cyberattacks.

3. Institutional Strengthening and Operational Cooperation

Canada and Mexico intend to collaborate on the location, prosecution, and transfer of priority targets, including extradition processes in accordance with each country's legal frameworks, within their respective territories. Additionally, both countries will explore the possibility of promoting specialized police training, the strengthening of intelligence and crime investigation units, professional exchanges, and the development of joint police practices, to consolidate the institutional resilience and operational effectiveness of their security agencies, promoting cooperation frameworks in intelligence and inter-institutional collaboration mechanisms to anticipate threats, improve the traceability of illicit flows and ensure timely responses to transnational organized crime.

4. Reaffirm our commitment to Bilateral Defence Cooperation

Building on the 2018 Canada-Mexico Defence Cooperation Arrangement, the Canada-Mexico Bilateral Defence Dialogue will continue to serve as a high-level forum for strategic engagement. Through this mechanism, both countries will exchange perspectives on global and regional security issues and pursue collaborative initiatives under the Military Training Cooperation Program. The Dialogue will also promote the integration of gender perspectives in defence planning and operations.

5. Disaster resilience

Canada and Mexico recognize the successful cooperation model they have maintained since the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding on mutual exchange and wildland fire management cooperation. This Memorandum has allowed for the exchange of wildfire personnel and equipment during severe wildfires, and collaboration in areas of information sharing, technology, skills, training, and research and innovation. Both countries value this continued partnership on wildfire management and see it as a successful model for increased cooperation, including as they implement measures in support of the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter. In recognition of the need to ensure the safety and preparedness of our peoples in the face of increasingly complex and evolving natural disasters, Canada and Mexico will work together to strengthen resilience and enhance joint collaboration in emergency management, in areas beyond wildfires. In this context, Canada and Mexico will explore opportunities to enhance cooperation and exchange focused on information sharing on disaster resilience, including planning, preparedness, and risk analysis.

IV. Environment and sustainability

Canada and Mexico underscore the deep commitment to environmental stewardship and climate action and, in this context, will  work to address pressing global challenges through innovation and mutual support, promoting shared prosperity in the region.

1. Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship

Canada and Mexico will deepen cooperation on the conservation and sustainable management of protected natural areas, reaffirming their shared commitment to preserving biocultural heritage in collaboration with Afro-descendent and Indigenous communities in Mexico, and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This collaboration will include joint efforts in wildlife conservation and ecosystem protection for migratory species, guided by knowledge exchange and coordinated stewardship. This cooperation will be supported by the signature of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding on the conservation of protected natural areas between Parks Canada and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas of Mexico by the end of 2025.

2. Climate Action Towards Emission Reductions

Reflecting on their shared commitment to advancing climate mitigation and the transition towards responsible energy practices, both countries support efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in emissions reduction, including through the exploration of methane certification regimes within the natural gas supply chain. Both countries will also collaborate on adaptation measures, considering the vulnerability of their territories to the effects of climate change. These commitments will be enhanced by exchanges of knowledge, and technical sessions will continue to form the work of the Environment and Sustainability Working Group, including on short-lived climate pollutants, such as methane and black carbon.  Furthermore, we will continue cooperation on policy and technological solutions to reduce black carbon from key sources.

3. Energy Transition and Collaboration

Canada and Mexico will explore cooperation on energy transition and promote technology exchanges and investments in renewable or low-emitting energy. This cooperation could encompass areas such as energy efficiency in production processes and industries, human resource development, and academic collaboration. In the hydrocarbon sector, cooperation will center on identifying potential joint initiatives for energy security, including those related to resource development, production enhancement, and technical cooperation. Efforts will also focus on advancing innovation in exploration and extraction technologies, with attention to environmental performance and the potential role of liquefied natural gas to advance shared objectives. Through the exchange of best practices, Canada and Mexico will cooperate to ensure the reliability of electrical systems and the development of smart grids that provide greater flexibility to electrical systems. Both countries will also join efforts towards energy transition, and promote technology exchanges and investment in electric mobility and electric mass transportation, renewable energy projects such as wind, geothermal energy and bioenergy management, reducing the emissions intensity of oil and gas production and the transition towards clean energy.

4. Water Security and Climate Resilience knowledge exchanges

Canada and Mexico are committed to enhance long-term resilience in the face of growing climate and resource pressures and will continue to collaborate on climate adaptation and comprehensive water management.  Both countries will support joint dialogues, and the sharing of knowledge and experiences for innovation and technology development relating to the effective management of freshwater resources to support responsible economic growth and environmental protection.

5. Inclusive Growth and Responsible Business Conduct

Both countries recognize the importance of responsible business conduct and commit to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop, adopt, promote, strengthen, and implement policies that support a responsible business environment, while promoting inclusive trade and sustainable growth. Special attention will be given to sectors driving the green transition, circular economy, and the development of future-oriented technologies.