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Trudeau pitches strong ties to new Mexican leader amid U.S. tumult

Claudia Sheinbaum elected as Mexico害羞草研究所檚 first female leader
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Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum waves as she arrives to address supporters after the polls closed during general elections in Mexico City in Mexico City, early Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Mexico害羞草研究所檚 election of its first female president could mean a stronger relationship with Canada, as analysts watch how Claudia Sheinbaum will approach civil rights and the possible return of former U.S. president Donald Trump.

害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檒l see a friendly relationship,害羞草研究所 said Carleton University professor Laura Macdonald, who specializes in Mexican politics.

害羞草研究所淎nd if Trump is re-elected, I think Mexico and Canada will really need each other more than ever, in order to confront the bully in the North American relationship.害羞草研究所

Sheinbaum will replace Andr茅s Manuel Lop茅z Obrador in October. Both hail from the left-wing Morena party, which has focused on improving conditions for the poor while facing criticism over organized crime in the country.

A former climate scientist, Sheinbaum is the first Jewish leader of Mexico, and first came to prominence as mayor of Mexico City.

Trudeau spoke with Sheinbaum by phone Monday, and Ottawa害羞草研究所檚 readout says 害羞草研究所渢hey committed to working closely to strengthen North American competitiveness害羞草研究所 and bilateral ties.

Sheinbaum wrote on the platform X in Spanish that both agreed on 害羞草研究所渢he multiple common interests between Mexico and Canada and the great opportunities to strengthen our relationship.害羞草研究所

The election comes three months after the Liberals reimposed a visa requirement for Mexican visitors over concerns that the 2016 lifting of the requirement led to a rise in ineligible refugee claims and human smuggling into the U.S.

In her victory speech, Sheinbaum promised to continue many of Lop茅z Obrador害羞草研究所檚 policies, but to 害羞草研究所渞espect business freedom and honestly promote and facilitate national and foreign private investment害羞草研究所 into Mexico.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 probably less likely to engage in inflammatory rhetoric,害羞草研究所 Macdonald said.

Duncan Wood, a vice-president at the Wilson Centre think tank in Washington and its senior Mexico adviser, said Sheinbaum害羞草研究所檚 pledge for stable trade will be of particular interest to Canada, which is a leading source of investment in Mexican industries such as mining.

L贸pez Obrador restructured mining operations to keep more profits within Mexico, and also put restrictions on the energy sector.

Wood said Sheinbaum might repeal some investment restrictions while boosting environmental regulations, which he said would be an opportunity for Canadian industry, particularly when it comes to natural gas and renewables.

He said he expects Sheinbaum will avoid policies that leave Mexico accused of breaching trade agreements.

害羞草研究所淭he relationship with Canada has been difficult over the last six years for a number of reasons, in part because of the bluster of Lop茅z Obrador. But also, because there are real issues in the bilateral relationship to do with investment disputes.害羞草研究所

Along with the U.S., the two countries will be part of the 2026 review of the trade deal that replaced NAFTA.

Ahead of the election later this year, American President Joe Biden and his likely election opponent Donald Trump have both been proposing policies that would clamp down on trade.

On Monday, Trudeau called the existing agreement 害羞草研究所渢he envy of the world, and the result of a strong, mutually beneficial relationship.害羞草研究所

Wood noted the North American deal is a way for Mexico to sell itself as a stable country for foreign investment.

He also said Mexico will find common cause with Canada over concerns with the current situation for the automobile sector, one of multiple industries for which Sheinbaum might demand better policies from the U.S.

害羞草研究所淪he has a long-standing attitude that the United States has been pushing Mexico around for far too long,害羞草研究所 he said.

In addition to trade, Trudeau said in a statement that he wants to work with Sheinbaum on climate change, international security, gender equality and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Canada is still aiming to host the next North American Leaders害羞草研究所 Summit this year, despite the U.S. presidential election in November and Mexico revealing earlier this year that Ottawa had arranged for the summit to take place in February before plans fell through.

Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 office said both leaders 害羞草研究所渆xpressed their desire to meet in person soon害羞草研究所 during their Monday call.

Wood was in Mexico as an election observer and said the 害羞草研究所渉uge victory害羞草研究所 for Sheinbaum害羞草研究所檚 party surprised people, who expected her to win but not to have a possible supermajority in the Mexican congress.

The result could give her party wide berth to change Mexico害羞草研究所檚 constitution, following L贸pez Obrador taking steps to take powers away from independent regulators and decrying American funding for civil-society groups that are critical of the government.

Freedom House says Mexico害羞草研究所檚 defence department has used spyware to infiltrate the mobile phones of numerous activists, while Human Rights Watch says the government害羞草研究所檚 proposed legal reform threatens judicial independence.

害羞草研究所淏ehind the scenes, there are some concerns about what he might have been doing to restrict democratic institutions,害羞草研究所 Macdonald said of Lop茅z Obrador. 害羞草研究所淭hat will be a theme under the new president害羞草研究所

Still, Macdonald said Canada and Mexico are each other害羞草研究所檚 best hopes if the U.S. decides 害羞草研究所渋t won害羞草研究所檛 be easy sailing害羞草研究所 in continental trade.

害羞草研究所淲e have common interests, and we just have to keep working on developing the relationship.害羞草研究所





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