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Carney launches trade mission to India, Australia, and Japan
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit three key Asia-Pacific nations this week in a bid to reduce Canada's reliance on U.S. trade, his office announced. The trip begins in India on Thursday, followed by stops in Australia and Japan.
India visit marks thaw in strained relations
Carney's first stop is New Delhi, where he will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit signals a shift in Canada-India relations, which soured after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the 2023 killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
Efforts to repair ties have included Modi's invitation to last year's G7 summit in Alberta and a December visit by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, during which trade talks were revived. Anand later told reporters she raised concerns about domestic rule of law and transnational repression during her meetings.
Historic address in Australia, energy and tech on agenda
From India, Carney will travel to Australia, where he will meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and become the first Canadian leader in nearly 20 years to address Australia's parliament. The trip concludes in Tokyo with talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Carney's office said the tour will focus on energy, artificial intelligence, defense, critical minerals, maritime security, and food security-sectors identified as priorities for diversifying Canada's trade partnerships.
Reducing dependence on U.S. trade
The U.S. accounts for roughly 75% of Canada's exports, a vulnerability Carney has repeatedly cited amid ongoing trade disputes. His goal is to double non-U.S. exports within the next decade, a target underscored by recent tensions over U.S. tariffs on Canadian metals and automobiles.
In a statement Monday, Carney framed the strategy as a response to global uncertainty: "We are diversifying our trade and attracting massive new investment to create opportunities for our workers and businesses."
Recent trade moves signal shift in policy
Carney has taken steps to distance Canada from U.S. trade policy, including lifting tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles earlier this year in exchange for China reducing retaliatory duties on Canadian agricultural products. His January speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos also drew attention for criticizing economic "coercion" by "great powers," widely interpreted as a rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump.
While the U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down Trump's broad tariffs, sector-specific duties on steel, aluminum, and cars remain in place. Meanwhile, Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are renegotiating the USMCA trade deal, with a decision on its extension expected this summer. Both Canada and Mexico have expressed support for maintaining the pact, though the Trump administration has signaled a preference for bilateral agreements.
What's next for Canada's trade strategy
Carney's tour is the latest in a series of global engagements aimed at securing new markets. Officials say the outcomes of these meetings could shape Canada's economic trajectory for years, particularly as geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt traditional trade flows.
