The recent North American Leaders Summit in Mexico was seen as a perfect opportunity to try and kickstart the trilateral partnership. While there was no headline grabbers or major breakthroughs, the NAFTA partners still moved forward on some crucial issues that centered around North American competitiveness. They developed a shared set of priorities and established a roadmap for enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, transportation, energy, as well as border facilitation. This includes creating a North American trusted traveler program which is part of ongoing efforts to establish a fully integrated continental security perimeter. During separate bilateral meetings, Canada and Mexico also took steps towards strengthening political, economic and security ties.

On February 18, in advance of the North American Leaders Summit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper held discussions with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. After their meeting, they signed a number of deals designed to further deepen bilateral relations. This includes two agreements which promote new trade opportunities between Canada and Mexico. They also announced a declaration of intent to expand defence cooperation, “which demonstrates a continued commitment by both countries to work together on security issues facing North America.” It is scheduled to be officially signed in April and, “will outline the manner in which enhanced bilateral cooperation will take place in areas such as military training, and defence research and materiel.” The two leaders also renewed the Canada-Mexico Joint Action Plan that provides a framework for engagement on important issues such as fostering competitive and sustainable economies, protecting our citizens, enhancing people-to-people contacts, as well as projecting our partnership globally and regionally.

In the report Canada’s Trade With Mexico: Where we’ve been, where we’re going and why it matters, Laura Dawson, “examines the development of, and prospects for, the Canada-Mexico economic relationship and identifies key areas for future action.” The policy paper proposed increasing the number of state visits, parliamentary exchanges and trade missions between both countries. It recommended enhancing cooperation between Canada and Mexico in the energy and mining sectors. The report also encouraged all three NAFTA partners to improve progress in both regulatory and border facilitation programs and emphasized the need for closer collaboration on trade negotiations of mutual interest. Furthermore, it called on Canada to remove or reform the visa requirement for Mexican nationals which was imposed in 2009 in an effort to curb an increase of bogus asylum claims. The issue has been a source of tension between both countries. Before Prime Minister Harper’s trip to Mexico, business leaders urged him to lift the visa requirements for Mexican travellers. While the dispute wasn‘t resolved during his recent visit, Canada and Mexico signed an expanded air transport agreement which could serve as a precursor to eventually eliminating the visa restrictions.

U.S. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto met in Toluca, Mexico on February 19, for the North American Leaders Summit. In a joint statement entitled 21st Century North America: Building the Most Competitive and Dynamic Region in the World, the leaders, “committed to developing a North American Competitiveness work plan, focused on investment, innovation and increased private sector engagement.” They also agreed to, “develop a North American Transportation Plan, beginning with a regional freight plan and building on existing initiatives.”

In addition, the leaders pledged to, “streamline procedures and harmonize customs data requirements for traders and visitors.” This includes efforts to, “facilitate the movement of people through the establishment in 2014 of a North American Trusted Traveller Program.” The leaders also vowed to, “set new standards for global trade through the prompt conclusion of a high standard, ambitious, and comprehensive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).” All three NAFTA partners, along with nine other countries are a part of the TPP trade deal which is currently being negotiated behind closed doors and is being pushed by big corporations.

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