Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reaffirmed the importance of his recent Davos speech, which critiqued unconstrained global superpowers, after claims emerged that he had softened his message in a conversation with US President Donald Trump.
Carney told reporters in Ottawa, To be absolutely clear, and I said this to the president, I meant what I said in Davos, responding to comments made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that Carney was 'very aggressively walking back' some of his remarks.
During his speech, Carney indirectly addressed the US president's actions, reflecting on the 'rupture' in postwar global order. Trump's response at Davos emphasized the relationship between the two nations, stating, Canada lives because of the United States.\
In light of the controversy, Carney described the phone call with Trump as a positive discussion about various global issues, including Ukraine and trade agreements with China.
Despite the tension, Carney clarified that he is not pursuing a free-trade deal with China, countering suggestions made by Bessent. Instead, he emphasized that Canada is adjusting to the evolving trade landscape initiated by US policy changes. The ongoing dialogues reflect broader negotiations on USMCA, the trilateral trade agreement.
As trade discussions unfold amidst threats of tariffs on Canadian goods, Carney's insistence on Canada’s independence in trade policy marks a significant moment in US-Canada relations.
