Canada to lift visa for Mexican visitors in deal before Three Amigos summit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is dropping its visa requirement for Mexican visitors as of December 2016, while Mexico has agreed to open its markets to Canadian beef.
OTTAWA—The leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico will talk up continental co-operation when they meet Wednesday, a message standing in stark contrast to the wall-building aspirations of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump and Britain’s flight from the European Union.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto gave a preview of that theme Tuesday following meetings in Ottawa, where they made progress on long-standing diplomatic irritants and highlighted growing ties between their two countries.
With debate raging in the United Kingdom over the referendum to leave the European Union, Trudeau pointedly made the case for closer ties between nations, which he called a “path to prosperity.”
“Throughout the world, we see a great deal of protectionism, isolationism and people who look inward rather than opening up to others,” Trudeau told a joint news conference held with Pena Nieto on the eve of the Three Amigos summit.
“We understand that collaboration, partnership, greater unity on issues . . . are ultimately good for our citizens, are good for the middle class, are good for the growth that matters.
That message was reinforced by the Mexican president, who said the two countries are “fully convinced” that shared economic and social progress can be achieved through “international trade and regional integration.”
“We have a shared vision. We truly believe in regional integration practices. We believe in free trade,” Pena Nieto said.
The Mexican president, who saw relations with Canada cool under Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, praised Trudeau, noting it was the first state visit by Mexican leader in 15 years.