Mario Zelaya reports a sudden shift in North American trade diplomacy, claiming the United States excluded Canada from new bilateral trade talks with Mexico. The core allegation is that the U.S. and Mexico have been holding structured negotiations—three rounds of bilateral discussions—while Canada has not been invited or included in any formal negotiating process.
According to Zelaya, the U.S.-Mexico talks are happening despite Canada’s role as a central partner in the broader trade framework that governs commerce across the region. Zelaya emphasizes that, in contrast to the U.S.-Mexico track, there appears to be no comparable process involving Canada: the report says there is nothing resembling a formal negotiating effort between the U.S. and Canada. In other words, there is no clear calendar for Canada-related talks, no publicly described series of meetings, and—critically—no call or official outreach that would typically signal the start of negotiations.
The timing matters. Zelaya frames the decision as particularly consequential because it comes only about one month before a key review deadline related to the CUSMA arrangement (the trade agreement that links the U.S., Canada, and Mexico). That proximity to a looming deadline raises questions about whether Canada will be adequately prepared to engage on the review and whether the U.S. is steering the process in a way that could limit Canada’s negotiating leverage.
In Zelaya’s portrayal, the contrast between active U.S.-Mexico negotiations and stalled or absent U.S.-Canada engagement suggests an imbalance in how the U.S. is advancing discussions with different partners. While Mexico appears to be moving forward through multiple rounds, Canada is depicted as being left outside the room—without a schedule, without a negotiating framework, and without even the informal communications that often precede formal talks.
The report also highlights the political and communications backdrop surrounding this trade approach. Zelaya references Carney and the political narrative connected to his position, noting that Carney ran on the basis of his ability to achieve results. Zelaya’s wording implies that the situation may not align with that promise, especially if Canada is being sidelined from the process.
Taken together, Zelaya’s news framing depicts a trade strategy in which the U.S. prioritizes bilateral talks with Mexico while treating Canada’s involvement as uncertain or nonexistent at a critical moment. The absence of a formal U.S.-Canada negotiation track could mean that Canada is either being deliberately excluded, or that discussions are being delayed or conducted in a less transparent manner than the Mexico track.
The situation has potential implications for industries and workers across all three countries, because CUSMA-related decisions can affect tariffs, rules of origin, market access, and other provisions that shape manufacturing and cross-border supply chains. If Canada is not engaged in a timely, structured way, it could face challenges in shaping outcomes before the review deadline. Conversely, Mexico’s ability to participate in multiple rounds may allow it to better influence terms during the same period.
Zelaya’s report ultimately underscores a fundamental question: why would the U.S. pursue a concrete negotiation path with Mexico while providing Canada with no clear process? With the review deadline so near, the lack of any calendar, call, or negotiating mechanism for Canada stands out as a key signal. Whether the exclusion is temporary or part of a broader reordering of trade strategy, Zelaya portrays it as a breaking development in North American trade diplomacy.
Source: Mario Zelaya
Mario Zelaya: 🚨 BREAKING US excluded Canada from trade talks with Mexico. USA + Mexico: three rounds of bilateral trade talks USA + Canada: nothing. No formal negotiating process. No calendar. No call. One month before the CUSMA review deadline. Carney ran on his ability to. #breaking
— @mario4thenorth May 1, 2026
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