The Canadian International Council has produced a fantastic graphic that vividly depicts how deeply (or not) North America is integrated economically (See link). In fact, what this chart really depicts is a North American economic space dominated by two bilateral trading relationships; U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico. It is a classic hub-and-spoke situation. Unfortunately, this chart is also suggestive of some of what plagues trilateral relations. In recent years, the comparatively tenuous economic ties between Canada and Mexico have been reflected in the relative frostiness between the two over a host of issues (border security, immigration, visa requirements, regulatory cooperation, etc), with both Mexico City and Ottawa (but mostly Ottawa) electing to pursue issues with Washington bilaterally.
As I wrote back on January 21 (post linked here), the rebilateralization of North America is a troubling development. That economic ties between Canada and Mexico are not strong enough to have forestalled rebilateralization may ultimately prove an unfortunate development for both countries.
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