Canada isn't about to 'throw Mexico under the bus,' foreign ministers say

It might be too early to say wherethe renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement will lead, but the foreign ministers of Canada and Mexico already agree they don't want to sacrificeone relationship for another.

Chrystia Freelandand her Mexican colleague were asked Tuesday to comment on recent suggestions that in an effort to save its trading relationship with the United States, Canada might "throw Mexico under the bus."

"I've always been clear, and the prime minister has always beenclear, about the importance of our relationship with Mexico," Freelandsaid, adding that strong ties and the benefits of making them even stronger have been the focus ofPrime Minister Justin Trudeau's government since taking office.

Too much has been made of comments taken out of context, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray added, saying it would be "asignificant mistake" to characterize the state of the bilateral relationship between Canada and Mexico "as something that is not simply great."

• 1 in 4 Canadians want Trump-style travel ban, poll suggests

The foreign ministers appeared together for a panel discussion at a Torontoeventcalled "New Strategies for a New North America," convened by the Canadian Council for the Americas.

Theircountries have had contrasting starts with Donald Trump's administration.

Trudeauhad aconflict-free first visit to Washington last week. Several ministers have taken similarly positive, early steps with their counterparts.

But U.S. talks withMexico were abruptly cancelled over ongoing threats from the new U.S. president to build a wall along Mexico's border to crack down on immigration and make Mexicans pay for it, although it's unclear how.

Videgaray told the Toronto audience that he and his officials continue to work constructively with Washington, despite this heated war of words.

'Three-way negotiations'

Canadians have beenassured that Trump's dissatisfaction with NAFTA was aimed at Mexico, not its northern partner.

Would Canada be tempted to cut ties with Mexico to save its own economic interests?

First, nothing's happening soon, Freeland reminded her Toronto audience especially since Trump's trade negotiator hasn't even been confirmed yet and the U.S. is required to hold a 90-day consultation period before talks begin.

"We all collectively have to be careful not to get ahead of ourselves," she said.

But when talks do begin,"NAFTA is a three-country agreement," Freeland said. "Were there to be any new negotiations, those would be three-way negotiations."

Freeland's remarks appear to contrast with Trump's stated intentionsto deal with countries one at a time to get the best deal for America.

Videgaray said he understood if Canada stayed away from some of his country's bilateral issues with the U.S. Each country will naturally have its own agenda, he said.

Freeland said recent examplesof bilateral co-operation between Canada and Mexico such as Canada's lifting of its visa requirements, which she said was already positive for tourism and other businesses, and Mexico's full reopening of its borders to Canadian beef were "really encouraging signs."

NAFTA not to blame for job losses

In an earlier speech to the same audience,Mexico's economy minister, Ildefonso Guajardo, talked about the way the two countries co-operated during the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations to make sure the U.S. and Japan did not rewrite regional content rules for the automotive sector in a way that was harmful to the U.S.'s NAFTA partners.

Guajardo said Trump's rhetoric about the trade dealbeing responsible for the lossof manufacturing jobs in "rust belt" states does not hold.

The job losses, the Mexican minister said, were in businesses that weren't well-integrated into North American supply chains. Businesses engagedin north-south regional trade were actually growing, he said.

Former prime minister BrianMulroneyalso spoke at the Toronto event and said sacrificing Canada's relationship with Mexico to please the Americans would be foolish.

"This under the bus stuff is for losers, not for winners," he said. "And Canada is a winner."

"Sometimes it will be bilateral, and sometimes it will be trilateral," he said of discussions around how to improve the agreement first negotiated when he was in office. "I think at the end of the day, we end up with an updated and modernizedNAFTA."

'Donald is somewhat unorthodox'

In an interview with CBC News Network's Power & Politics later Tuesday, Mulroneysaid standing by Mexico wouldshowstrength.

"Throwing friends and neighbours and allies under the bus is a position for a weak leader," he told host Rosemary Barton. "This is not the Canadian tradition."

Brian Mulroney : 'The obligation for the prime minister is Canada above every thing else'

8 years ago

Duration 7:17

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney says President Donald Trump tries to re-negotiate NAFTA

If the Americans decide not to do any more multilateral or trilateral agreements, "that would be a new reality," Mulroney said, but "we're not there yet."

"Donald is somewhat unorthodox as a president," Mulroneytold the Toronto audienceabout Trump, a man he says he knows from his social circles in New York and Palm Beach, Fla. "That doesn't mean that he can't surprise on the upside, and I think that's what he's going to do."

"We're going to come out of this in one piece," hesaid. "If I had to bet a dollar, I'd bet onthat right now."

Mulroneysaid he knewTrudeau's government was doingwell so farwith the new U.S. administration, because he spoke directly withTrump Saturday evening duringa charity fundraiser at the Florida resort the president owns.

"[Trump] was engaged with [Trudeau] personally and spent a lot of time with him and enjoyed his company a great deal," Mulroneytold Barton.

• 'I apologize in advance': BrianMulroneysings for Trump

Mulroney: 'give me a mic and I feel a song coming on'

8 years ago

Duration 2:23

Former PM Brian Mulroney overcomes difficulties with his microphone and delights the crowd by blaming the issues on Ed Broadbent, then joking about running for the conservative leadership.