TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a new partnership with the United States on Thursday, just weeks before President Donald Trump decides to renew the free trade agreement between the two countries.
In a speech at the Economic Club of New York, Carney said there should be a “true partnership” that reimagines cooperation in specific sectors that challenge global competition.
He made these statements before the mandatory review of The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCAin July.
Carney Canada said Diversify away From the United States and signing trade agreements with dozens of countries around the world.
Carney said: “Our primary goal through these partnerships is to increase our strategic independence. Because we live in a world where integration has been used as a weapon. Because a country that cannot feed, fuel, or defend itself is not truly sovereign.”
Trump’s actions – including the launch Trade war The proposal that Canada become the 51st state in the United States – angered Canadians and created the political environment for Carney to win the position of Prime Minister after he promised to confront Trump.
The Canadian Prime Minister has emerged as a spokesman for the movement of nations to find ways to connect and Confronting the United States Under Trump. Carney set a goal for Canada to double its non-US exports in the next decade, saying US tariffs are causing a slowdown in investment.
“A strong Canada will help make America great again,” Carney said. “Examples abound where we must work together and compete with the world together. To achieve these ends, we have made specific and practical proposals to the US administration.”
Canada has been protected from the heavier impact of Trump’s tariffs by the United States Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement But this trade agreement is under review, and some key sectors such as aluminum and steel have been hit hard by tariffs.
The Prime Minister noted that Canadian aluminum exports to the United States are equivalent to the capacity of 10 Hoover Dams and that it does not make sense to replace Canada.
“Given America’s growing energy needs, does it make sense to build the gigawatts needed to replace Canada?” Carney said.
He also noted that when it comes to automobiles, Canada is America’s largest customer, and that “an integrated North American market for production is the best and most durable way to meet intense global competition.”
Carney also said that in terms of critical minerals, with its vast reserves of potash, nickel, copper and uranium, Canada could be the most reliable supplier America needs to put affordable food on the table, to strengthen its national defense and meet the growing demand for powered artificial intelligence.
“At a time of global energy crisis, Canada provides the United States with reliable energy and critical minerals that help fuel American growth: 99% of US natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports, and 60% of crude oil imports,” Carney said.
Canada is America’s largest customer, buying more goods than China, Japan and Germany combined, Carney said.
“We know that when there have been disagreements between Canada and the United States over the years, we have always eventually worked them out, because our shared values and shared interests are deep-rooted. They run through our economies,” he said.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Trade with the United States, will head to Washington next week for talks. LeBlanc has previously warned that the FTA may be subject to annual review and that uncertainty may be the goal of the Trump administration.