Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that his country’s strong economic ties with the United States have gone from strength to weakness.
“The world is more dangerous and divided,” Carney said in a 10-minute video address, adding, “America has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.”
Carney underlined, “Many of our former strengths based on our close relationship with America have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we have to fix.”
Since returning to the White House for his second term, US President Donald Trump has not only imposed tariffs on Canadian goods like steel, cars and aluminium, but has also repeatedly thought about annexing Canada and turning it into America’s 51st state.
Trump’s rhetoric and actions have angered Canadians and are believed to be a factor in Carney’s election as his party previously lagged in the polls.
‘We cannot rely on a foreign partner’
“America has changed and we must respond,” Carney said, emphasizing that simply hoping “the United States will return to normal” is not a viable strategy. “We have to take care of ourselves because we cannot rely on any foreign partner.”
Carney’s comments come days after securing a majority for his Liberal government last week. He said an election victory would strengthen his position and help him deal more effectively with the trade war with the US.
Canada sends approximately 70% of its exports to the United States.
And the country is scheduled to review the trilateral US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact this year.
US officials have suggested they want major changes to the agreement.
Last week, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described Canada as a difficult trading partner.
Carney also faced Trump’s ire after his speech at the World Economic Forum in January, in which he condemned efforts by larger countries to coerce smaller countries through trade.
Keeping track of business deals with others
Carney vowed to sign trade deals with other countries to diversify and reduce dependence on the US.
He also wants to attract new investments and increase defense spending.
The Prime Minister said he plans to regularly address Canadians in the coming weeks and months to update them on the progress being made.
“This is our country, this is our future, we are taking back control,” he said.
Edited by: Alex Berry