Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that decades of close economic partnership with the United States have evolved into a vulnerability, as Ottawa reassesses its reliance on its largest trading partner.
In a 10-minute video address released Sunday, Carney outlined a changing global environment and signaled a strategic pivot toward broader international economic ties.
His remarks reflect an ongoing reassessment of bilateral relations following trade tensions and political rhetoric from Washington.
Carney pointed to shifts in U.S. trade policy as a key factor behind Canada’s recalibration.
“The world is more dangerous and divided,” he said, citing rising tariffs and a departure from previous trade norms.
He added that economic strengths rooted in close U.S. ties have become liabilities that require correction.
The comments come amid a trade dispute driven by tariffs on Canadian exports, including steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
U.S. officials have also called for significant revisions to the trilateral trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, which is set for review in July.
Canada currently sends nearly 70 percent of its exports to the United States, underscoring the scale of its dependence.
Statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, including suggestions that Canada could become a U.S. state, have further strained relations.
Carney’s address emphasized the need for Canada to reduce reliance on any single partner while strengthening domestic economic resilience.
“We have to take care of ourselves because we can’t rely on one foreign partner,” he said.
The prime minister has already indicated a willingness to expand ties with other global economies, including China.
His Liberal government recently secured a parliamentary majority, providing greater flexibility in shaping trade and economic policy.
Carney also invoked historical parallels, referencing figures who resisted U.S. expansion during the War of 1812.
Holding a toy soldier representing General Isaac Brock, he suggested that Canada has faced external pressures before.
The government is expected to provide further updates as it navigates trade negotiations and broader economic strategy in the coming months.