México CITY.- In a world crossed by trade tensions, protectionism and geopolitical rivalry, Canada and México are beginning to show clear differences on how to relate to the United States and China.
For Ottawa, the warning sign is high dependency, since almost 76% of its exports go to the United States. In 2024, bilateral trade reached 761.8 billion dollars, a concentration that today appears risky due to political pressure and the recurrent use of tariffs. Between January and October 2025, Canadian exports to its neighbor fell 4%.
The response of Mark Carney’s government was to accelerate diversification. Canada signed an agreement with China, opened talks with Qatar and seeks to double its exports outside the United States within a decade.
Although trade with China amounts to “only” 118.7 billion dollars, it is already showing traction, as exports grew 9.8% in 2025.
In Davos, Carney was direct, saying that the world is experiencing a rupture, not a transition. Great powers use tariffs and supply chains as weapons. Their bet is to gain autonomy without isolating themselves.
México, on the other hand, plays another card. More than 80% of its exports go to the United States and are equivalent to about 40% of GDP. The room for maneuver is limited.
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President Claudia Sheinbaum prioritizes dialogue and negotiation with Washington, even raising tariffs on more than 1,400 Chinese products.
While Canada moves towards diversification, México opts for selective alignment with its main partner. Two strategies, the same challenge that is to survive and compete in an increasingly fragmented world.
Source: Punto MX Redacción from Punto MX on 2026-01-22 12:36:00
