Canada can help 'make America great again,' PM tells US business leaders

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told a gathering of American industrialists in New York on Thursday that a robust and independent Canada would serve US interests through a "true partnership," arguing that "Canada Strong will help make America great again" as the two countries approach negotiations on a new trilateral trade accord.

Partnership amid tariff tensions

Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Carney said US President Donald Trump's "tectonic shifts" in tariffs and the increasingly "divided and dangerous" world order have compelled Canada to bolster its internal strength while seeking closer cooperation in energy and industrial sectors. He noted that this strategic pivot does not signal a rupture in bilateral ties but rather a recalibration toward mutual dependence, adding that Washington relies on Canadian supplies of oil, natural gas, electricity and industrial metals.

Resource cooperation

Carney listed the critical resources the US imports from Canada, stating that enhanced cooperation in these sectors would generate "mutual strength" rather than dependency. "That is mutual strength," he told the audience, adding that both nations should "work together and compete with the world together" rather than allowing tariff disputes to fracture their economic integration. He identified energy and industrial metals as particular areas where deeper collaboration could offset global instability.

Strategic diversification

The remarks come as Canada, the US and Mexico prepare to open negotiations on a new trade treaty to replace the existing framework. Carney noted that Ottawa is simultaneously pursuing expanded commercial ties with the European Union, Asia and South America rather than maintaining exclusive reliance on American markets. The diversification strategy reflects what Canadian officials describe as a response to Washington's increasingly protectionist trade posture.