Bangladesh, Sept. 29 -- For decades, North American trade has been built around a simple geographic reality: Canada, the United States and Mexico are deeply connected, and the United States sits at the center of the continent's transportation and consumer markets. But a changing trade relationship between Washington and Ottawa is encouraging Canada to look beyond its traditional dependence on the American economy.

One of the most striking examples is the emergence of Canadian Pacific Kansas City, or CPKC, as a railroad connecting Canada and Mexico through a single integrated network.

The railroad's position is becoming increasingly significant as Canada seeks to expand trade with countries other than the United States. Rather than trea...