Canada's Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay concluded meetings this week with his Mexican counterpart, Secretary of Agriculture José Calzada, discussing the countries' bilateral trading relationship.

During a telephone conference following the meetings, MacAulay highlighted some of the successful collaborative work between Canada and Mexico, such as the joint effort in the repeal of U.S. country of origin labeling laws for beef and pork.

MacAulay says they also discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (PP) during their talks.

"[Mexico is] quite interested in the TPP and what it will do for their products. We had a very interesting conversation," MacAulay says. "Of course he's very much [for] open trade, and of course increasing trade -- like he indicated quite clearly to me, what NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) did and what they want to do with all the trade deals, is make sure they improve their trade worldwide, which is in fact what we want to do, should we approve this TPP."

MacAulay says the TPP still needs to be debated and voted on in the house of commons before it will be officially approved by Canada.

MacAulay says he also used the meetings this week as an opportunity to raise the issue of Mexico's restrictions on the import of Canadian beef from cattle over 30 months of age.