Mexico's virtual president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly have agreed on the importance of strengthening the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
During a meeting at the Transition House in Mexico, they discussed the future of bilateral relations and the significance of the trade agreement. Sheinbaum emphasized the need to reinforce the USMCA as part of its 2026 review.
"In the case of the USMCA, we discussed the upcoming 2026 review, and we fully agreed that the goal should be strengthening the agreement. She asked if we were on board with this, and we said yes," Sheinbaum stated.
In a press conference following the meeting with the Canadian foreign minister, Sheinbaum clarified that a more detailed discussion about the relationship with Canada would start next October, once President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration concludes.
"We also mentioned that we would formalize the relationship once we are in government. For now, it's an informal relationship. We respect President López Obrador's work, and from October onward, we will deepen our relations on this and other issues," she added.
During the meeting, Sheinbaum highlighted the importance of expanding and maintaining work visas for Mexicans in Canada.
Sheinbaum noted that Joly, whom she had previously met during her tenure as Mexico City mayor, expressed interest from various Canadian companies in investing in Mexico. She pointed out that Juan Ramón de la Fuente and Marcelo Ebrard, the future secretaries of foreign affairs and Economy, respectively, will handle this interest.
The virtual president-elect dismissed concerns about economic instability during the transition, assuring that by 2025, Mexico would have financial stability and sufficient resources to continue all social programs, support strategic projects like the Mayan Train, and provide one million homes to Mexicans.
"Ensuring the current welfare programs, new programs for public school children, and support for one million women aged 60 to 64 is guaranteed. We have evaluated this and know where the resources will come from," she commented.
ON TOUR, IN THE MAYAN TRAIN
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that this weekend's tour with the virtual president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, will be on the Mayan Train from Campeche to Mérida, Yucatán.
He mentioned that the tour includes a visit to Edzná, Campeche, to review the progress of a hotel under construction and the inauguration of the completed archaeological site.
"We are going to Edzná because the construction of the hotel is well advanced, and the restoration of the archaeological site is complete. Then, we will meet in Mérida to evaluate progress, followed by another evaluation in Cancún, before returning," he explained.