O'Leary warns China’s rise could push US, Canada and Mexico into tighter economic union
Billionaire Kevin O’Leary says the threat posed by China’s advances in AI and energy will force the United States, Canada and Mexico to deepen economic integration.
Kevin O’Leary, the Canadian billionaire and former Shark Tank investor, posted a video on X asserting that fear of China’s expanding capabilities in AI, technology, warfare and power generation will drive the United States, Canada and Mexico toward deeper economic collaboration. He noted that Canada supplies energy and critical minerals, the United States offers large-scale innovation, and Mexico serves as a vital economic link, making integration an "economic necessity" as competition intensifies.
O’Leary’s view aligns with recent remarks from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who warned that China could become the world’s AI leader, and warnings from OpenAI and Anthropic about narrowing gaps with Chinese rivals. Executives from Ford, Rivian and Uber have also pointed to Chinese dominance in electric-vehicle production. Despite these pressures, the region remains fragmented, illustrated by recent tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on certain Canadian goods. Reports also suggest that rising AI costs are prompting companies worldwide to adopt cheaper Chinese models from firms such as DeepSeek, Moonshot AI and Z.ai.
Why it matters
It highlights how geopolitical competition with China may reshape trade and cooperation among North American economies.
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