Mark Carney Urges Closer U.S. Trade Ties to Strengthen Industrial Base and Economy
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used a speech in New York to argue that closer trade ties with Canada could help the United States strengthen its economy and industrial base, framing the relationship as one that could, in his words, “help make America great again.” The pitch was aimed squarely at the Trump administration and focused on cooperation in aluminum, auto manufacturing and critical minerals.
According to reporting from Bloomberg and other outlets, Carney told the Economic Club of New York that the world is undergoing a “rupture” as the United States redefines its commercial relationships, but said that Canada and the U.S. should respond by working more closely together rather than pulling apart. He said his government had already made “specific, practical proposals” to Washington and argued that the two countries can “work together and compete with the world together.”
Carney highlighted aluminum as a prime example of mutual benefit, pointing to Quebec’s large hydro-powered production capacity and saying Canadian aluminum exports to the U.S. are “the energy equivalent of 10 Hoover Dams.” He also argued that North American integration remains the best way for the auto sector to compete globally, noting that Canada is the biggest customer for American-built cars.
The Canadian leader also pressed the importance of Canada’s reserves of potash, nickel, copper and uranium, saying they could help support U.S. food production, national defense and the growing demand for electricity needed to power artificial intelligence. In the speech, he described Canada as a dependable supplier for American needs and suggested that the two countries should deepen, rather than weaken, their trade relationship.
The comments come at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Canada economic relations, as the Trump administration has pushed a more protectionist approach to trade and supply chains. Carney’s message was designed to show that Canadian trade is not a threat to the U.S. but a strategic advantage, especially in industries tied to energy, manufacturing and critical inputs.
He also tied trade to broader Canadian policy goals, using the speech to outline his government’s efforts to expand energy exports and strengthen military capabilities. Carney ended by calling for a closer partnership with what he described as “a different Canada, a stronger Canada, a more confident Canada,” signaling that Ottawa wants to present itself as a reliable and assertive partner even amid shifting U.S. policy.