Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Hon. Heath MacDonald and the Mexico Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué, met on Tuesday, October 14 to discuss bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation and trade ties between the two countries. 

This meeting is part of the Canada–Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028, announced on September 18, 2025, by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

During the meeting, both officials emphasized the strategic importance of the Canada–Mexico relationship in ensuring sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems. They highlighted progress in agri-food trade, scientific research, technological innovation, and sustainable rural development, as well as their shared interest in expanding technical and commercial cooperation.

Minister MacDonald recognized Mexico’s key role as a strategic global partner and reinforced the opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade and technical cooperation, particularly in the grain, oilseeds, horticulture and animal protein sectors, while respecting each country’s inspection and regulatory systems.

Secretary Berdegué underscored the need to strengthen integrated North American value chains, promote sustainable productivity, and reinforce cooperation mechanisms to address common challenges such as climate change, animal and plant health, and the transition toward low-emission agriculture.

The Minister and Secretary emphasized the importance of science and technology collaboration and sharing of expertise. They committed to convening a meeting of scientists from both departments to identify areas of further collaboration and to report back within the next six months.

Mexico has accepted Canada’s proposal to ease import requirements for eligible apples from eastern Canadian provinces starting in January 2026 and meaningful progress has been made on mutual laboratory and inspection recognition.

Both countries also agreed to advance the implementation of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Work Plan to expand market access and ensure competitive, safe, and high-quality products for consumers and processors.

Leveraging existing mechanisms such as the Canada-Mexico Consultative Committee and Agri-Business Working Group, they agreed to strengthen collaboration and information exchange focused on food security, competitiveness, trade expansion and diversification.

Concurrent with the ministerial meeting, an industry-led Mexico–Canada Agri-business Dialogue with sector leaders from both countries was held to identify collaboration opportunities to increase bilateral trade and address challenges related to agri-food product facilitation in the short and medium term.

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada October 16, 2025 news release