Carney ‘strong’ in year one, now must deliver on promises in Canada | Donald Trump News
Canada’s Prime Minister Carney Navigates Rocky Relations with U.S.
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney took office in 2025 amid escalating tensions with the United States, where newly inaugurated President Donald Trump implemented tariffs on Canadian exports and suggested that Canada might become the “51st state.”
With nearly 80 percent of Canadian exports directed to the U.S., the threats struck a particularly alarming chord in Ottawa, which has historically maintained close trade and security ties with its southern neighbor. The tariffs marked an uncharacteristic break in these longstanding relationships and were one of the first actions taken by Trump.
Responding to the pressures from Washington, analysts have commended Carney for his steadfast approach during his first year in office. “The most notable aspect of the last year was both dodging a bullet and employing savvy statecraft,” said Brett House, a senior fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. “Carney has stood strong against not only Trump’s provocations but also internal criticisms within Canada.”
According to House, the top accomplishment thus far has been Carney’s ability to resist the urge to swiftly negotiate trade deals under pressure, a stark contrast to the approaches taken by many other nations. “Commitments from this president are absolutely worthless,” he added.
Carney has leveraged the uncertainty stemming from the U.S. administration’s actions to reshape Canada’s foreign policy. With the previous reliance on the U.S. as the foundation of a rules-based global order now in question, experts assert that Carney aims to diversify Canada’s international relationships. “Ottawa’s historical ties have become a liability,” noted Vina Nadjibulla, vice president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
This new direction was evident in January, when Carney addressed a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, highlighting a “rupture” in the global order and emphasizing the need for middle powers like Canada to strategize effectively amid rising geopolitical tensions. Prior to Davos, Carney set out to restore relations with nations that had faced political strain under his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
For instance, Carney extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 summit, aiming to mend ties that had frayed since Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada in 2023. Additionally, Carney has worked to recalibrate relations with China, strained since the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018—a move that prompted retaliation against two Canadians detained by Chinese authorities.
Carney has also strengthened partnerships with Japan, South Korea, and Australia, while fostering closer ties with European nations.
In the lead-up to last year’s elections, Carney sought to project an image of moderation, deliberately distancing himself from Trudeau’s legacy. According to Sanjay Jeram, chair of the political science department at Simon Fraser University, Carney has focused primarily on economic and international issues, often steering discussions away from domestic topics.
Jeram described Carney’s pragmatic approach as recognizing the world as it is, allowing him to align his policies based on current realities rather than ideal expectations. Recent approval ratings reflect this strategy; a March Ipsos poll indicated that 58 percent of Canadians now support Carney, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year.
However, while Carney’s government has made strides to reduce federal barriers for business and trade, concerns about certain policies have emerged, particularly regarding indigenous consultation on major infrastructure projects.
As Carney settles into his second year, he faces notable challenges, including the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) set to begin on July 1. The U.S. has signaled that revisions to Canada’s external tariffs may be necessary, which could conflict with Canada’s ongoing trade negotiations, particularly with China.
Nadjibulla noted that 2026 is likely to pose additional challenges, as the focus shifts towards the implementation of existing policies within the complex dynamics of U.S.-Canada relations.
