Energy cooperation among the United States, Canada and Mexico is long-standing, extensive, robust, and covers numerous areas of mutual interest. The nature of our cooperation has evolved over time, from separate and strong bilateral partnerships with each of our neighbors to increasingly encompass an integrated, trilateral approach to our shared energy challenges and opportunities. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) main government partners are Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Mexico’s Secretariat of Energy (SENER). 

Bilateral Cooperation

U.S.-Canada: The Office of International Affairs coordinates the framework for bilateral collaboration between the U.S. DOE and NRCan, based on a September 2014 Memorandum of Understanding. Areas of cooperation include: responsible development of unconventional oil and gas; safe and modern infrastructure, including cyber security; responsible use of energy and energy efficiency; carbon capture and storage; and global leadership in regional and multilateral fora to advance shared priorities.

U.S.-Mexico: The Office of International Affairs leads initiatives between the U.S. DOE and Mexico’s Energy Department (SENER) on two energy initiatives under the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue; one on energy data and information sharing and the other on energy infrastructure. U.S. DOE and SENER also serve with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Mexican Secretariat of Economy as government co-chairs of a U.S.-Mexico Energy Business Council, which includes ten energy industry representatives from each country.

Trilateral Cooperation

Trilateral engagement on North American energy issues first began in 2001, but has accelerated in recent years. Energy plays a prominent part in meetings at the Presidential level.  North American Energy Ministers hold among the most frequent engagements, no doubt reflective of the importance of the North American energy system. Recently, Ministers launched an online energy data sharing platform for the North American Cooperation on Energy Information (http://www.nacei.org/). In addition to the data sharing initiative, key areas of trilateral cooperation include unconventional oil and gas; clean coal cooperation, including carbon capture, utilization, and storage; electricity grid reliability, resilience, and security; and a North American Renewable Integration Study. The most recent North American Energy Ministers meeting was hosted by U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in Houston, Texas on November 14-15, 2017.  For more information on this meeting, please see the North American Energy Ministerial Joint Summary.