Mark Carney said Canada needs to build economic relationships with other countries as its relationship with the United States changes.
Published April 19, 2026
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said after decades of cooperation with the United States, the two countries’ close economic ties had become a “weak spot” that needed to be corrected.
Carney spoke out about Canada-U.S. relations in a 10-minute video Sunday, suggesting Canada needs to move away from over-reliance on one country.
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“The world is becoming more dangerous and divided,” Carney said. “The United States has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.”
“Many of the former strengths based on our close relationship with the United States have become weaknesses,” he added. “Weaknesses that must be corrected”
The comments are the latest from Mr. Carney. The U.S.-Canada relationship shows the changing nature of its relationship after decades of economic integration, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of higher tariffs shakes up trade relations with adversaries and allies around the world..
President Trump’s comment that Canada should become a U.S. state also upset Canadians.
At one point in the video, Mr. Carney held up a toy soldier depicting General Isaac Brock, a British military commander who fought against U.S. forces during the War of 1812 invasion of what is now Canada.
“While today’s situation feels unique, we have faced threats like this before,” Carney said.
Carney’s Liberal government secured a parliamentary majority in a special election earlier this month, giving him more room to maneuver on key economic issues such as U.S. trade relations. A review of the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico is scheduled for July.
Carney became prime minister in 2025 after a campaign in which he promised to take a firm stand against what many Canadians perceive as unwarranted hostility from the United States.
Although tensions between Trump and Carney have eased,some tariffs have been lifted, but Canadian leaders are seeking closer economic ties with countries such as China to reduce Canada’s dependence. About the United States.
“We can’t rely on one foreign partner, so we have to take care of ourselves,” Carney said Sunday. “We can’t control the chaos coming from our neighbors. We can’t control our future by expecting it to suddenly stop.”
