Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a new relationship with the United States to “help make America great again”. In a speech delivered in New York on Thursday, Carney urged a “true partnership” that reimagines cooperation in sectors challenged by global competition, ahead of the mandatory review of the USMCA trade agreement in July.
Carney said Canada is diversifying away from the US and signing trade deals with dozens of countries, aiming to double non-US exports in the next decade. “Our core objective across these partnerships is to increase our strategic autonomy,” he stated, adding that US tariffs are causing a chill in investment.
Despite tensions, Carney emphasised the deep economic ties between the two nations. He noted that Canada buys more US goods than China, Japan and Germany combined, and provides 99% of US natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports and 60% of crude oil imports. “Canada strong will help make America great again,” he said.
Carney highlighted specific sectors where cooperation is vital, including energy, automobiles and critical minerals. He argued that replacing Canadian aluminium exports would require the energy equivalent of ten Hoover dams, and that an integrated North American auto market is the best way to face global competition.
The prime minister also addressed US President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada, describing the country’s ties to the US as “weaknesses we must correct”. He warned that the US has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.
Carney concluded by expressing confidence that differences can be worked through, as “shared values and common interests run deep”. He said Canada has made specific, practical proposals to the US administration for greater cooperation.
