Canadian PM Carney Pledges to Prioritize National Interests in US Trade Talks

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has assured premiers that he will only sign a trade deal with the United States if it serves the best interests of Canadians. This commitment underscores the government’s focus on protecting Canadian industries and promoting economic growth

When it comes to the prospect of reaching a deal, Carney said “we’ll see” and that “complex negotiations” continue. He said if there isn’t a deal that works for Canada, his government will “take stock” and consider what to do next. 

The prime minister made the remarks after dropping into the first ministers’ meeting in Ontario’s cottage country, where he briefed Canada’s premiers on the government’s trade discussions with the Trump administration.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is hosting the premiers for three days of meetings to discuss their own response to the trade war U.S. President Donald Trump launched against Canada. arney said that a good deal would reinforce the country’s long-standing and successful trading relationship with the U.S. while not preventing Canada from expanding the country’s relationships around the world. 

“Our phone is ringing off the hook from other countries that want to do more with Canada,” Carney said. “I’ve had over 80 bilaterals with world leaders since I became prime minister. A number of the premiers have been on major trade missions. We have other things to do,” he said. Quebec Premier François Legault said it is “very difficult” to say whether there will be a trade deal with the U.S. by Aug. 1.

“We would like to have the ideal deal,” Legault said, “but what can we get? You almost need to ask Donald Trump and I’m not even sure that he knows himself what he wants.”

Ford said he still thinks a deal is “realistic” but Canada has to “focus on what’s going to strengthen” the economy rather than what Trump will do next.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said she, too, is focused on getting a good deal, not a fast deal.

Ensuring energy security

Ford, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday morning to build new energy and trade infrastructure.

CBC News asked the premiers if Canada needs to replace Line 5 — the more than 1,000-kilometre-long pipeline carrying 540,000 barrels of oil and natural gas liquids daily across Wisconsin and Michigan to refineries in Sarnia, Ont. — regardless of whether there is a private-sector proponent behind such a plan.

“I believe so,” Ford said. “We can’t rely on the Americans anymore. Simple as that.”

Moe said Canada does not want to find itself in the same position as Europe, which recently found out what it means to be heavily reliant on oil and gas from Russia. 

“We certainly need to have a very mature discussion about how we can provide Western Canadian oil and gas to Canadians that live in Central and Eastern Canada for our own good,” Moe said. “Not only our economic security but our energy security.”