After months of clashes with President Donald Trump, Canada is changing its approach and seeking closer economic ties with the United States as a key deadline to revise the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement approaches.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, both outspoken critics of Trump's trade policies, are reportedly promoting a new strategy aimed at strengthening economic cooperation among the three North American countries, according to a Financial Times report.

Ford is expected to travel to Washington on Monday to meet with U.S. officials and "launch Fortress North America," which his office describes as "a bold vision for how Canada, the U.S. and Mexico can work together."

The outreach comes after Canada found itself sidelined from ongoing U.S.-Mexico trade discussions. Ottawa has struggled to gain traction with the Trump administration after Ford launched an anti-tariff advertising campaign last year that angered the president.

Canadian leaders now appear eager to return to the negotiating table.

Speaking to Wall Street executives last month, Carney said that "Canada strong will help make America great again."

Signaling a softer approach after winning an election pledging to fight American hostilities, the Canadian prime minister said the country "remains open to deeper integration, including options for fortress North America in selected sectors."

The stakes are high. The USMCA governs roughly $933 billion in annual U.S.-Canada trade and is set for review beginning July 1.

The Trump administration has already made clear it wants major changes. In April, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the agreement a "bad deal" that needs to be reworked.

Some Canadian officials acknowledge that Ottawa has little leverage.

Steve Verheul, Canada's former chief trade negotiator, warned lawmakers that "we could be stuck for a considerable period of time."

"Canada is not going to be able to force the U.S. to come to the table," he said.

Trade experts say Mexico City has had greater success managing relations with Washington.

"Mexico and the U.S. appear to have found a more practical working channel, while Canada is still managing a much frostier political relationship with Washington," former U.S. Assistant Commerce Secretary Michael Camuñez told the Times.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to apply pressure. Last week, he again referred to Canada as America's "51st state!"

Canada has already rolled back policies that antagonized Washington, including taxes targeting U.S. technology and streaming companies. But critics say the concessions have produced few results.

Kenneth Frankel, president of the Canadian Council for the Americas, told the Times that one such move only led to "a never-ending and ill-defined list of preconditions from the U.S. to start talks."

Stephen de Boer, Canada's former ambassador to the World Trade Organization, said Canadian officials face a difficult reality.

"It’s very difficult for the Canadian government to shadowbox with that type of regime in D.C.," he told the outlet.

At the end of the day, de Boer added, "it all is decided by Trump."