Ottawa (Rural Roots Canada) – Canada’s four-day agricultural trade mission to Mexico has wrapped up, as the two nations aim to strengthen agricultural ties and expand the market for Canadian agri-food exports.
In Mexico City, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald met with Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué, where the discussion focused on shared priorities for building a more resilient and diversified food supply. MacDonald also delivered closing remarks at the Canada-Mexico Agribusiness Dialogue, emphasizing Canada’s commitment to working with industry partners to advance sustainable, reliable, and mutually beneficial agri-food trade.
The Minister’s visit coincided with a major milestone for Canadian beef exports – the launch of Canadian beef products in 42 Costco stores across Mexico. Joined by representatives from Canada Beef, the Canadian Meat Council, and JBS Foods, MacDonald highlighted Canada’s reputation as a trusted supplier and its commitment to long-term trade with Mexico.
Trade expansion was also top of mind in meetings with Grupo Trimex, Mexico’s largest flour miller and a key importer of Canadian wheat. Since 2020, Canada has exported 3.9 million tonnes of wheat worth $1.5 billion to Mexico, and Trimex is now expanding into Canadian oats and canola. MacDonald called the partnership a reflection of Canada’s standing as a source of high-quality, reliable agricultural products.
RELATED: Canadian Agricultural Leaders Head to Mexico to Strengthen Trade Ties
In Guadalajara, the Minister met with AGYDSA and Oleomex, the leading importers of Canadian canola seed, to discuss growing opportunities in the oilseed sector. AGYDSA has been Mexico’s top importer of Canadian canola since the 1980s, while Oleomex announced plans to double its imports over the next five years. Since 2020, Canada has shipped 5.9 million tonnes of canola seed to Mexico, worth about $4.53 billion.
MacDonald also met with Grupo Industrial Vida, Mexico’s largest importer of Canadian oats and a major investor in Alberta and Manitoba’s oat processing sector. He praised the company’s plans to expand production capacity in Canada. Canada’s oat exports to Mexico in the last five years are valued at $224 million.
“The partnership between Mexico and Canada stands as a vital bridge that strengthens both economies and fosters innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” said MacDonald, in a statement. “We will continue to work with Mexico to create new opportunities, such as increased market access for our products to help build a stronger, more resilient future for our sector.”
As trade headwinds and U.S. tariffs continue to affect several Canadian sectors, the federal government has said it has been looking at increasing and diversifying its agricultural trade and promoting the “Canada brand” globally. This trade mission was part of Ottawa’s broader plan to build on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to Mexico, where the two countries launched the Canada-Mexico Action Plan, which aims to strengthen collaboration on food security, trade, and supply chain resilience.
In 2024, bilateral agri-food trade between Canada and Mexico reached $6.9 billion, a 45% increase since 2019. Canada’s main exports to Mexico include pork, beef, canola, and wheat, while fresh produce and tequila dominate imports from Mexico.
