Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a 10-minute video address that the country’s strong economic ties to the United States have shifted from an advantage to a liability. “The world is more dangerous and divided,” he said, adding that “the US has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.” He warned: “Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we must correct.”
Since returning to the White House for his second term, US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, cars and aluminum and at times rhetorically suggested annexing Canada. Trump’s rhetoric and measures have angered Canadians and were seen as factors in Carney’s election, after his party had been trailing in polls.
Carney stressed that Canada cannot simply wait for the United States to “return to normal.” “We have to take care of ourselves because we can’t rely on one foreign partner,” he said. He noted Canada sends almost 70% of its exports to the US and that this year the trilateral US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact is up for review, with US officials reportedly seeking major changes. Last week US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized Canada as a difficult trading partner. Carney also drew US ire earlier after condemning large countries’ use of trade coercion at the World Economic Forum.
To reduce reliance on the US, Carney said he will pursue trade deals with other nations, attract new investment and boost defence spending. He vowed to give regular updates to Canadians on progress, declaring: “It’s our country, it’s our future, we are taking back control.”
Edited by: Alex Berry