Canada’s prime minister says economic ties with US are a weakness that must be corrected
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada’s strong economic ties with the United States were once strong but have now become a weakness that must be fixed, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a video address released Sunday.
In the 10-minute speech, Carney talked about his government’s efforts to strengthen Canada’s economy by attracting new investments and signing trade agreements with other countries.
“The world is now more dangerous and divided,” Carney said. “The United States has fundamentally changed its approach to trade and raised tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.
“Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we must correct.”
carney said tariffs Measures imposed by US President Donald Trump have affected workers in the automotive and steel industries. He added that businesses were withdrawing investment, “constrained by the shadow of uncertainty that looms over us all.”
Many Canadians were also angered by Trump’s comments suggesting Canada would become the 51st state.
Carney says he plans to give Canadians regular updates on his government’s efforts to diversify away from the U.S.
“Security cannot be achieved by ignoring the obvious threats we Canadians face or by downplaying the real threats,” he said. “I promise you, I will never sugarcoat our difficulties.”
It is not the first time that Carney, who served as central bank governor first at the Bank of Canada and then at the Bank of England, has talked about a shift in world power.
He was widely praised for denouncing major powers’ economic pressure on smaller countries in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.
His words brought together Reprimand from Trump.
After his speech, Trump said, “Canada lives thanks to the USA.” “Remember that next time you explain, Mark.”
There was no reaction from the White House to this address on Sunday.
Carney’s comments come just days after he secured a majority government following special election victories and as opposition Conservatives are pushing him to deliver a US trade deal, which was among his promises in last year’s election.
Reviewing the current version North American Free Trade Agreement It is planned to be held in July between Canada, the USA and Mexico.
In his speech, Carney said he wants to attract new investments to Canada, double its clean energy capacity and reduce trade barriers within the country. He also highlighted Canada’s increased defense spending, tax cuts and efforts to make housing more affordable.
“We have to fend for ourselves because we cannot rely on just one foreign partner,” he said. “We cannot control disruptions from our neighbors. We cannot control our future in the hope that it will suddenly stop.
“We can control what happens here. We can build a stronger country that can withstand disruptions from outside.”
Carney said hoping “the United States will return to normal” is not a viable strategy.
“Hope is not a plan, and nostalgia is not a strategy,” he said.
Carney said Canada is a “great neighbour” that has sided with the United States in conflicts including Afghanistan and two World Wars.
“The United States has changed, and we must respond,” he said. “This is about taking back control of our security, our borders and our future.”
