Carney, Freeland want to diversify trade beyond U.S. amid tariff threats
Liberal leadership contenders Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland want Canada to look beyond the United States to bolster its roster of trade partners amid ongoing tariff threats from President Donald Trump.
Carney, speaking in Windsor, Ont., in front of the Gordie Howe International Bridge on Wednesday, said Canada should remain “closely integrated” with the U.S. in sectors such as automotive, energy and security where the North American neighbours have strong ties.
But he said, “now that U.S. priorities are shifting, we need to change our priorities in ways that work best for Canada.”
“We know we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket,” he said. “We can and must change our major trading partners.”
Carney said Canada ought to diversify its trading relationships with countries that “share our values,” and named the United Kingdom, the European Union and “leaders in Asia.”
He cited emerging industries such as clean energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence as sectors where Canada can install itself as a trusted partner for overseas economies.
He said Canada should expand existing supply chain infrastructure, such as ports, railways and trucking corridors, to help reach more global markets.
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, Carney’s rival in the leadership race, unveiled an economic growth plan on Wednesday that called for the creation of a “trade diversification fund” at Export Development Canada.
That proposal would see Canadian businesses offered low-cost loans to expand into new jurisdictions, whether that means other provinces or non-U.S. international markets.
Freeland’s platform also calls for a first ministers’ meeting to remove interprovincial trade barriers on agriculture, transportation and
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