Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
What if Mexico, Canada Join the US in the Trade War with China?

What if Mexico, Canada Join the US in the Trade War with China?

Peter Hanks, Strategist

Share:

What's on this page

Trade War Talking Points:

  • After the US lifted metal tariffs on Mexico and Canada, some market participants have suggested the USMCA could form a united front against China in the ongoing trade war
  • Amid the conflict, Mexico has enjoyed a surge in exports to the United States as manufacturers look for workarounds
  • Read why 7.00 is the Spot to Watch in USDCNH in the US-China Trade War

What if Mexico and Canada Join the United States in the Trade War with China?

Progress in the US-China trade war has ground to a halt according to officials from both sides, which has rattled investor sentiment. As each party searches for leverage, some market participants have suggested a united USMCA could band together in an effort to alter uncompetitive Chinese trade practices. While Mexico and Canada carry significantly less sway with the Asian nation than the US, their trade balances are anything but negligible.

Data Source: Bloomberg

Over the last 10 years, Canada and Mexico have accounted, on average, for 2.43% and 2.96% of China’s total exports. During this time, Canada has seen its share of Chinese exports shrink – from 2.6% in 2009 to 2.3% in 2018. On the other hand, Mexico has seen its trade with China climb from 2.43% in 2009 to 3.36% in 2018, as the economic ties between the two countries grow. Together, the three North American nations account for more than 25% of China’s total exports. Conversely, the reliance of USMCA members on Chinese demand is quite limited.

Data Source: Bloomberg

North American demand for Chinese goods has fluctuated over the last decade, reaching a low of 8.62% in 2011 and a high of 10.83% in 2015. More recently, demand has been trending lower and the total percentage of Chinese imports from USMCA nations slipped to 9.31% in 2018.

View A Brief History of Trade Wars for background on economic conflicts like the US-China Trade War.

Therefore, the trade relationship between USMCA and China leaves the latter with few retaliatory options. The nation has already had to explore unconventional methods in its economic bout with the United States, so an engagement with a trading bloc that accounts for 26% of trade inflows but only 9% of outflows could weigh significantly on Chinese trade and the economy by extension. But what are the chances the North American nations band together?

Currently, the chances are low. The USMCA agreement will first have to be passed by US lawmakers – which is anything but certain. This assumes the removal of metal tariffs was the final barrier for agreement from Mexico and Canada. Beyond that, the United States will have to convince its partners to engage in economic conflict with the world’s second largest economy – a tall task. However, there is some precedent for cooperation.

Canada and Huawei

On December 1, Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada at the behest of the United States. The detention amounted to another front in the US-China trade war – and dragged Canada into the conflict. Since the detention in late 2018, tensions between Canada and China have been strained as two Canadian nationals faced arrest in China alongside a block on imports of canola seeds from two of Canada’s biggest exporters.

Early this May, President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked over the phone to discuss trade. The two reportedly discussed steel and aluminum tariffs, which have since been removed – paving the road to recovery between the two partners. With these developments, Canadian action against China now seems plausible, with multiple reasons for Canada to join forces with the US.

Mexico Has Everything to Gain

While Canada has an axe to grind, Mexico could look to make hay while the sun shines. As increased levies make Chinese exports less attractive to US consumers and less profitable for exporters, corporations will search for alternatives. Last week, Walmart announced it will begin analyzing options to shift its supply chain out of China to avoid price increases and others are likely to follow. While many companies will look to shift production elsewhere in Asia, some have chosen to move closer to home.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau

Already, companies have begun to open up shop in Mexico – with Hasbro and GoPro as two of the more notable examples. The shifting tides have had an immediate impact on recent trade data. Consequently, Mexico is now the United States’ top trading partner in goods according to US Census Bureau data. Further, US imports of Mexican goods rose 10% in 2018 - the most since 2011.

That said, the country’s best course of action may be to stay off the radar and hope the trend continues. In the year-to-date, USDMXN has slipped -3.3% and the Peso could etch greater gains should exports to the United States continue to climb.

While the likelihood that either Mexico or Canada directly engage in the trade war is minor, its impacts can be observed in shifting trade balances and fluctuating currency rates. But, with the Chinese economy hinged to exports, the addition of two import-heavy belligerents could prove an insurmountable obstacle for Xi Jinping and the People’s Bank of China – were it to occur.

--Written by Peter Hanks, Junior Analyst for DailyFX.com

Contact and follow Peter on Twitter @PeterHanksFX

Read more: TSLA, Uber Stock Troubles Could Signal Shifting Tech Sentiment

DailyFX forecasts on a variety of currencies such as the US Dollar or the Euro are available from the DailyFX Trading Guides page. If you’re looking to improve your trading approach, check out Traits of Successful Traders. And if you’re looking for an introductory primer to the Forex market, check out our New to FX Guide.

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES