Friday March 28, 2025 | MONTREAL, QC [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC] – Posted at 3:18 pm PT [Updated 5 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Liberal Leader Mark Carney says he hopes to see a new economic and security relationship with the United States immediately following the federal election.
He described his discussion with US President Trump today as “productive and constructive”, saying “it’s the beginning of negotiation”. The next conversation will happen after the April 28 Canadian federal election.
Carney is still waiting to see what the US government will do on April 2 regarding tariffs. Presently the threat is about applying a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports into the United States.
“As Canadians we have to look out for ourselves and we have to look out for each other.”
Through the election period:
“I will be working very hard over the next month,” said Carney about winning the election on April 28.
Carney’s press conference today was held at the Port of Montreal, noting how the history of Canada essentially began there by three cultures… English, French and Indigenous.
“Canada’s strong but we are even stronger when we are united,” said Carney.
Fight, protect and build:
Carney continues to build his campaign platform around restructuring the Canadian economy now that the economic relationship with the United States (as we’ve known it for decades) is over.
“The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over,” said Carney.
“What exactly the US does next is unclear. But what is clear is that we as Canadians have agency, we have power,” said Carney today. “We can control our destiny. We can make ourselves more productive. We can make ourselves more competitive. We can build a stronger and more resilient economy by breaking down internal barriers and building one Canadian economy,” said Carney.
That would include diversifying Canada’s trading partners including the development of new trade infrastructure. He promises to stand up for Canadian workers and businesses through this time. “We will stand up for our history, our values, and our sovereignty,” said Carney.
Trade Diversification Corridor:
The Prime Minister introduced the Trade Diversification Corridor fund. Until now ports have been competing with each other. In the new economy they will need to work together, said Carney.
Canadians must “fight, protect and build” a new economy, said Carney. “Over the coming weeks, months and years we must fundamentally reimagine our economy. We must ensure that Canada can succeed in a drastically different world,” the Liberal Leader said today.
“My solemn promise is to stand up for Canadian workers and Canadian businesses.” He declares he will stand up for Canadian sovereignty.
Talking with Trump, the start of negotiations:
It was a very productive and constructive conversation between Carney and Trump, said Carney today.
He called it a cordial substantive call between leaders of two sovereign nations. “The focus was on making progress,” said Carney.
Carney said there was agreement “which is what I wanted” to have a comprehensive discussion on our broader economic security concerns.
Supply management is of the table. That protects Canada’s dairy and meat sectors among others.
An intensive discussion between the foreign affairs ministers of both countries — Melanie Joly and Marco Rubio — will continue.
“The purpose of the meeting (just under one and half hours long) was largely, for me, to debrief the premiers, and to hear directly from them on two things… the countermeasures that the government of Canada could take…. and how we’re going to build this economy and to reinforce this discussion,” said Carney.
“We’ve been clear about our priorities, how we’re going to approach this,” said Carney, but added that Canada has other trading options which will continue to be built and developed.
As to when Trudeau was prime minister, Carney today said that the US President had “a different impression before about how strong Canada really is”.
In Canada’s interest:
“We will only agree to things that are in Canada’s interest,” said Carney about trade negotiations with Trump.
A recession in the US always affects Canada, he noted.
And here was the economist talking: “The president is intending to have a quite significant transformation of the American economy. A number of industries will be restructured”. That sort of economic restructuring naturally includes “friction, inflation, and slowing of growth”.
“The pace at which that proceeds depends in part on the outcome of the negotiations,” said Carney. He still feels “the Amercians are our most important trading partner.”
At this time he sees “no indication of pulling back on tariffs on vehicles”.
Given the number of tariffs, the uncertainty, and the scale of ambition, Canada needs to develop a new partnership, he pointed out.
Arctic security will be an important part of the conversation going forward. Canada will have relationships with like-minded countries in the Arctic. “Russia is not part of that,” said Carney.
Carney mentioned the radar agreement with Australia that was made recently and recognizing the sovereignty of Denmark and by extension Greenland.
Carney about Poilievre:
Carney said that the Conservaitve party leader (Pierre Poilievre) had mocked the Trudeau government’s work to establish relations with the Arctic nations. But emphasizes that “the world is divided and more dangerous”.
“He doesn’t take any of his security responsibilities seriously,” said Carney about Poilievre.
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NEWS SECTIONS: TARIFFS & TRADE | CANADA-NATIONAL | CANADA-USA | CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025