Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing a trade strategy less dependent on the United States. He aims to position Canada as a leader in a changing global trade order. The shift comes amid disruptive US trade policies.
Carney is expanding ties beyond Washington through new partnerships and smaller trade agreements. Notably, he signed a trade deal with China, diverging from US policy. The move highlights Canada’s push to diversify markets.
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Ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney visited several under-engaged countries. He said US decisions are eroding multilateral, rules-based systems. He promoted plurilateral deals among like-minded nations.
Meanwhile, Canada restored ties with India and revived stalled trade talks. It concluded deals with Ecuador and Indonesia and signed investment agreements with the UAE. More talks are planned with Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American partners.
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However, experts warn Canada remains heavily reliant on US trade. Nearly 70 percent of exports still go south. Analysts say reducing this dependence will be difficult and may require deeper, riskier engagement with China.