SPECIAL SECTION Mexico and North America: Regional Limits and Priorities1 Rafael Velázquez Flores* INTRODUCTION of this region, promising dynamic trilateral relations. But now, over 20 years later, we can see the reality has been different. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) This article is based on two premises. Firstly, North Amer entered into force in 1994, Mexico has been considered part ica lacks the expected trilateral relationship, and instead has two bilateral relations. On the one hand, the Unit ed States and Mexico have a very close relationship, and on the other, * Researcher and professor at the Autonomous University of Baja equally strong ties exist between the United States and Can Ca lifornia (UABC) School of Economics and International Rela tions and general secretary of the Mexican Association of Inter ada. In other words, the MexicanCanadian relationship has a national Studies (AMEI),
[email protected]. low profile despite NAFTA. The second premise is that, in the 127 Voices of Mexico • 97 short and medium terms, conditions do not exist for a trilat eral relationship. The argument is that Mexico has foreign Both Mexico and Canada policy priorities focused on the United States, and this limits recognized NAFTA’s important regional role the possibility of a more intense relationship with Canada. in terms of trade and finance; it was even seen The essay has three parts. The first part analyzes the rela as an opportunity to strengthen tion between Mexico and the United States from a historical the relationship with the United States. perspective to identify Mexico’s priorities and limits; the sec ond examines the profile of Mexico’s relations with Canada; and the third and final part assesses the efforts made by the from the United States and Mexico’s PRI governments found three actors to foster trilateralism in the region.