The Obama administration is now attempting to make progress on North American border security and regulatory cooperation bilaterally with Canada. The Canada Gambit is that greater progress is possible without Mexico, and that the U.S.-Canada negotiations will improve North American security, productivity and competitiveness. It is also a gamble that Mexico can be accommodated later, and that bilateral talks with Canada will
be enough to sustain interest and generate concessions from interested parties.

Caption
US President Donald Trump reacts after signing executive orders imposing tariffs on imported goods in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik via Getty Images)