Key facts
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is advocating for middle powers to unite and create a "third path with impact."
- Carney met with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the G7 summit.
- He highlighted the combined economic and defense strength of Canada and the EU, stating their population is more than twice that of the U.S.
- Carney's remarks were made at Trinity College in Dublin and echoed comments from the World Economic Forum in Davos.
- Despite potential U.S. trade policy shifts, Carney noted that most Canadian trade with the U.S. remains tariff-free under the USMCA.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is advocating for middle powers to combine forces rather than compete for favor with the U.S. or China, particularly ahead of the G7 summit. Speaking in Dublin after meetings with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and French President Emmanuel Macron, Carney emphasized that Canada and the European Union, with their combined population and economic size, represent a significant bloc.
Carney stated that in a world of great power rivalry, middle powers have the choice to "combine to create a third path with impact." He drew parallels to his earlier remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he condemned coercion by great powers on smaller nations. Carney highlighted that Canada's cooperation with Europe is transforming, noting Canada's membership in the EU's SAFE defense procurement initiative and its numerous critical minerals partnerships across Europe.
Despite the U.S. administration's apparent lack of interest in major changes to the USMCA trade agreement, Carney stressed that most Canadian trade with the U.S. remains tariff-free under the pact. He has set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade, suggesting that trade tensions are chilling investment. Ireland's Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, expressed anticipation for deepening EU-Canada relations during Ireland's upcoming EU presidency.