While Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne were making the rounds in Mexico, a top White House official accused Ottawa of cozying up to China. Canada and China are the only two among roughly 90 countries to impose retaliatory tariffs on the U.S.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is scrambling to save his country’s relationship with Mexico after it disintegrated late last year when Canadian officials suggested they’d be better off negotiating a trade deal with the Trump administration alone.

The Trump administration's aggressive tariff policies have sparked varied reactions from key trade partners like Mexico and Canada. Despite tensions, the USMCA remains a crucial element shielding most trade exchanges from punitive measures.

Mexico’s president hosted senior Canadian ministers for talks after both countries were hit with new tariff threats last week.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said he is set to speak with Canada's finance minister, who is visiting Mexico City, later on Tuesday about the two countries' experiences in dealing with tariffs imposed on goods shipped to the United States.

The imbalance in President Trump’s treatment of America’s closest trading partners may come from his desire to make Canada the 51st state, some Canadians believe.

"There's a historic reluctance by Canada to engage seriously with Mexico," said Carleton University professor Laura Macdonald. "And there's a tendency for them to fail when they try to work together."