The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) joined the U.S. Conference of Mayors and a delegation of Mexican mayors for a tri-national trade summit of local leaders in Washington, D.C.

Representatives of cities and municipalities from the three nations are standing together to promote the value of fair trade for their communities and calling for an end to the damaging tariffs.

Through direct exchanges with their counterparts, Canadian mayors shared local experiences and data on the economic toll these measures are taking and the shared consequences of recent tariffs.

“Municipalities are the economic engines of this country, delivering the infrastructure, services, and conditions that drive Canada’s growth,” said FCM president Rebecca Bligh. “When trade agreements are undermined, it’s our residents, our workers, and our industries who pay the price. That’s why we’ve come together to speak directly with our counterparts across North America, to share the realities in our communities, and to stand together to urge an end to this economic disruption — for the sake of jobs, industries, and families in all of our countries.”

The summit comes at a pivotal time for Canada. With the federal election now underway, local leaders are calling for concrete action to build long-term economic resilience from the ground up. In the face of global volatility and economic uncertainty, municipalities are stepping up with solutions to drive growth and strengthen Canada’s future.

FCM is urging all federal parties to commit to ending interprovincial trade barriers, investing in trade-enabling infrastructure, and advancing a National Prosperity Partnership to ensure municipalities have the tools they need to deliver in areas that are critical to the strength and resilience of our economy, such as housing, infrastructure, economic development, public safety, and essential services.