Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on European Union member states to deepen economic ties with Canada, signalling a strategic pivot away from dependency on the United States amid ongoing trade tensions. Speaking ahead of an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and an investor summit in Toronto, Carney urged the 10 EU countries yet to ratify Canada’s nine-year-old trade agreement with the bloc to do so, framing closer cooperation as a way to enhance mutual resilience, sovereignty, and prosperity.
Carney’s push comes as relations between Ottawa and Washington have deteriorated in recent months, marked by reciprocal tariffs and escalating rhetoric. Following the collapse of trade negotiations with the Trump administration, Carney described the situation as an economic “attack” on Canada, which remains highly reliant on the U.S. as its largest trading partner. Trump’s public jabs at Canada, including dismissing it as a “51st state,” have further inflamed tensions.
Despite this strain, Carney emphasized that Canada’s outreach to China, India, and the European Union is not intended as a rejection of the United States. “We are about what we’re for, not what we’re against,” he said, underscoring his commitment to maintaining amicable ties with Washington. He pointed out that the U.S. itself has more extensive cooperation with China than Canada does, referencing President Trump’s upcoming state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as evidence.
The Toronto investor summit aims to attract significant foreign investment, with Canadian officials targeting $1 trillion over the next five years. Carney plans to highlight over 150 projects spanning mining, energy, and artificial intelligence, positioning Canada as a stable and trustworthy partner amid global economic uncertainty. Participants include major global investors such as Wall Street firms, the China Investment Corporation, and Africa’s Dangote Group.
On the European front, the 2017 Canada-EU trade agreement remains partially unratified, with concerns largely revolving around the impact of Canadian agricultural imports on European farmers. Carney noted that despite incomplete ratification, the agreement is effectively operational in all member states, but he pressed for formal endorsement to unlock deeper integration. Beyond trade, Canada and the EU are exploring cooperation in areas such as security, critical raw materials, energy, clean technology, visa liberalization, and financial regulations, with a further round of talks planned for next month in Montreal.
Carney will also visit the United Kingdom, meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whom he praised for a strong start in office. Regarding prospects for renewed U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, Carney expressed cautious optimism. He called on American officials to move beyond personal attacks and engage in genuine diplomatic discussions, saying that when conditions are right, Canada stands ready to resume talks.