Amid ongoing tensions between the US and Canada, PM Mark Carney told lawmakers in the parliament that “nothing is normal in the US” these days, especially when it comes to dealing with US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Carney had made similar remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, describing the current global order as undergoing a “rupture”.
“Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” Carney said at Davos. “The old order is not coming back,” he further said at the forum in the Swiss town.
Carney had said the post-World War II rules-based international order led by the US was no longer reliable, a statement that drew attention from Western allies and reportedly rattled Washington. The US also threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canada if the latter struck a trade deal with China.
‘I stand by what I said at Davos’
In a recent phone call with Trump, the Canadian PM said he told Trump that he stands by every word he said in Davos, and will not retreat, essentially junking the White House’s claim that Carney was “aggressively walking back” on his remarks.
Carney’s upcoming India visit
Carney is expected to visit India in March, a move aimed at reset bilateral trade after over two years of strained relations with Delhi.
Since assuming office, Carney has worked towards repairing ties
with India, which saw a diplomatic pause under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Canada’s changing orientation towards India also comes amid the newly-signed “mother of all deals” Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India with the European Union.
Impacted by the 50% US tariffs, India has also sought to diversify its trading options.
What is the agenda of Carney’s visit?
Formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India are expected to begin in March, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik told The Globe and Mail.
He added that during the visit, Carney would sign smaller agreements covering nuclear energy, oil and gas, environment, AI, quantum computing, education and culture.
Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson is also expected to visit India in February.