During his first trip abroad as a Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney made a swirling tour in France and Great Britain on Monday to present the deep European ties of Canada while President Trump threatens the economy and sovereignty of his country.
Only three days after being sworn in, Carney had lunch with President Emmanuel Macron from France in Paris, before going to London, where he had an audience with King Charles III, the Sovereign of Canada, and also met Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain.
“I want to make sure that France and all of Europe work with enthusiasm with Canada, the most European countries of non-European countries, determined like you to maintain the most positive relations possible with the United States,” Carney told the press alongside Mr. Macron at the Palais d’Elysée in Paris.
Trump has imposed prices on Canadian products and threatening even more samples, triggering pain on the Canadian economy, which is deeply integrated into that of the United States, in particular thanks to a free trade agreement, as well as Mexico. Canada retaliated with its own prices on American goods.
But Trump has also said on several occasions that Canada should become an American state and suggested that they want to remove the treaty that delimits the border between the two nations.
The threatening attitude of Mr. Trump rapped the Canadians and gave Mr. Carney a boost who landed him at the head of his party and his country.
His trip to Europe did not give new specific commitments, but that was an opportunity for Mr. Carney to advance two goals: reaching the key allies in Europe, showing that Canada has more friends than simple United States and displaying its gravity on the world scene while it is preparing for an election.
Carney was elected head of the Liberal Party of Canada on March 8 and was sworn in on Friday as Prime Minister.
He should call an election this week. He is not an elected member of the Parliament of Canada, and his party operates a minority government, putting it under pressure to request a mandate to govern.
At home in the world
A career banker who held two high -level positions – as governor of the Bank of Canada and then of the Bank of England – Mr. Carney directs Canada in the midst of the existential threats of his nearest ally, neighboring and commercial partner, while launching a political campaign, something he has never done.
In this context, his European trip played his forces at a time when many Canadians aspire to see their allies intensify for them.
Mr. Macron welcomed Mr. Carney as an old friend, stimulating his image as a person at home on the world scene, familiar with his leaders and problems, at a time of geopolitical and economic disorders due to the revision by Mr. Trump of American alliances and policies.
“Since we have known ourselves for many years, I know that we receive a man who loves his country, who is engaged in his country,” said Macron.
France and Great Britain are fundamental in Canada, having directed its regulations by Europeans centuries ago.
The personal ties of Mr. Carney with Great Britain are deep. His wife is British and he studied at the University of Oxford. In 2013, he became the first foreigner to be chosen governor of the Bank of England and he acquired British citizenship in 2018. He moved to renounce his British citizenship and the Irish citizenship he holds through the ancestry, because of his post as Prime Minister, said a spokesperson.
His political opponents sought to paint him as a globalist with little real attachment to serve his country of origin.
REALITY
Despite the symbolism of Mr. Carney’s welcome during his rapid European tour, the reality is that Canada’s relationship with the United States is essential and irreplaceable.
The United States is the best trading partner in Canada; About 80% of Canadian exports go to the United States and the commercial volume between the two nations is almost a dollar billion.
On the other hand, last year, trade between Canada and Great Britain was worth around 61 billion Canadian dollars ($ 43 billion). Trade in Canada with the European Union as a block was more important, going over $ 100 billion last year, making EU Canada’s second trading partner.
Monday evening, Carney said that the pricing and counter-tail scheme was not sustainable, and he expressed interest in having serious negotiations with the United States.
“What we are looking for with regard to the United States is to have a more complete discussion on negotiation of our global trade and security relations,” Carney told London media, adding that there were limits on the reprisals that Canada could impose in the United States.
In a hurry to respond to Mr. Trump’s rhetoric in Canada’s annex, Carney said he was “unthinkable” that the United States takes such a step in Canada. “Let me say the evidence is that we are both members of NATO,” he added.
