Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
USTR official urges Mexico and Canada to work with US against China
U.S. trade official Daniel O'Brien urged Mexico and Canada to work with Washington to compete with China.
He made the case at a manufacturing industry convention in Monterrey, saying economic security is a priority for both major U.S. political parties.
He said cooperation could cover export controls, investment checks and tariffs on goods from other countries.
The aim, he said, would include stopping Chinese products from entering the United States through Mexico or Canada.
O'Brien also called for bringing more supply chains back to North America, with Mexico potentially taking a large share.
These issues are part of discussions around the review of the trade agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada, alongside topics such as trade deficits and rules of origin.
From January to August 2026, Mexico had a $155.871 billion trade surplus with the United States.
A senior US trade official urged Mexico and Canada to work with the United States to compete with China.
Daniel O'Brien said economic security is a priority for both Republicans and Democrats in the United States.
He identified export-control cooperation, investment controls and coordination of tariffs on third countries as possible areas of work.
O'Brien also called for North American supply chains to be strengthened, saying much of any shift from China could end up in Mexico.
He spoke at the 51st National Convention of Mexico's National Council of the Export Manufacturing Industry.
- Who
- Daniel O'Brien, acting deputy US trade representative for the Western Hemisphere, urged Mexico and Canada to cooperate with the United States.
- What
- He called for collaboration to compete economically and commercially with China.
- When
- Friday, October 30, 2026, according to the article's publication date.
- Where
- At the 51st National Convention of Mexico's National Council of the Export Manufacturing Industry in Monterrey, Nuevo León.
- Why
- O'Brien said economic security means working with close trading partners to meet US objectives and compete with China.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mexico exported goods worth $419.344 billion to the US and imported $263.473 billion from it.
Daniel O'Brien urged Mexico and Canada to cooperate with the US against China at a manufacturing industry convention in Monterrey.
- Speaker
- Daniel O'Brien, acting deputy US trade representative for the Western Hemisphere
- Event
- 51st National Convention of the National Council of the Export Manufacturing Industry
- Mexico's exports to the US
- $419.344 billion, January to August 2026
- Mexico's imports from the US
- $263.473 billion, January to August 2026
- Mexico's trade balance with the US
- $155.871 billion surplus, January to August 2026
What people are saying
Our trading partners — especially our closest ones, such as Canada and Mexico, as well as other countries with which we have free trade agreements — must work with us to achieve our objectives.
From the perspective of the United States, if we are willing to impose barriers on inputs from China, we do not want China to introduce those same products through Mexico or Canada.
How do we bring supply chains back to North America?