Carney calls for new US-Canada partnership to ‘help make America great again’
The Story
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a speech delivered in New York on Thursday, called for a new relationship with the United States that he said could “help make America great again.” Carney proposed a “true partnership” to reimagine cooperation in specific sectors challenged by global competition, speaking ahead of the mandatory review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in July.
Key Facts
- Carney stated Canada is diversifying away from the US and signing trade deals with dozens of countries, with a core objective to “increase our strategic autonomy.”
- He noted that Donald Trump’s actions, including launching a trade war and suggesting Canada become the 51st US state, created the political environment for Carney to win the prime minister job after promising to confront Trump.
- Carney set a goal for Canada to double its non-US exports in the next decade, saying US tariffs are causing a chill in investment.
- He said Canadian aluminum exports to the US are the energy equivalent of 10 Hoover dams and questioned whether it makes sense to replace Canada.
- On automobiles, Carney stated Canada is the US’s biggest customer and that an integrated North American market is the best way to confront global competition.
- On critical minerals (potash, nickel, copper, uranium), Carney said Canada could be the most reliable supplier for US needs in food, defence, and AI power.
- Carney noted Canada provides 99% of US natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports, and 60% of crude oil imports, and is the US’s largest customer, buying more than China, Japan, and Germany combined.
- After Trump’s annexation threats, Carney described Canada’s ties to the US as “weaknesses we must correct” and said the US has raised tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.
- In January 2026, Carney at the World Economic Forum referred to “American hegemony,” saying greater integration with great powers created “vulnerabilities to be exploited.”
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
What specific proposals Carney made to the US administration, as he mentioned “specific, practical proposals” but did not detail them.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
- Donald Trump, US President (implied by context)
Sources: The Guardian
