Carney hopes trade war with U.S. will make Canada stronger and more resilient

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed hopes on Tuesday that Canada's trade war with the United States will ultimately make the country stronger and more resilient. Speaking at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, Carney signaled that Ottawa is prepared to wait for the right conditions rather than hastily rush into a deal with Washington.

He emphasized that Canada will always be a neighbour to the U.S., but stressed that the relationship should be built on mutual respect for each other's traditions and sovereignty. Carney also announced plans to seek private investment through long-term concessions for the operation of Canada's four largest airports, aiming to raise tens of billions of dollars for infrastructure.

He criticized the transactional and zero-sum approach to international economic relationships under the Trump administration, highlighting that Canada's reputation as a reliable partner has become increasingly valuable in a world where relationships are replacing transactions. The state of trade talks between Canada and the U.S. is strained, with tariffs playing a significant role in the tension. However, about 80% of trade between the two countries remains tariff-free.