Toronto – At the Canada Investment Summit, Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed a crowd of global investors and outlined a cautious approach to the ongoing tariff policy dispute with the United States. Carney said Canada intends to emerge from the confrontation as a more resilient and independent economy, preferring to wait for conditions that favor a mutually beneficial agreement rather than rush into a deal.
Emphasizing Partnership and Sovereignty
“And to our American friends, let me say this: we will always be neighbors,” Carney told the audience. He added that the relationship works best when the two nations act as “true partners that respect each other’s traditions and sovereignty.” When opportunities return, Carney expects Canada to be “an even better partner — stronger, more resilient, more independent.”
Airport Concessions to Attract Private Capital
During the summit, Carney announced a plan to seek private investment through long‑term concessions to operate Canada’s four largest airports. The government will retain public ownership of the land and underlying assets, and the concessions could generate “tens of billions of dollars” for reinvestment in transportation and other infrastructure projects.
Critique of Zero‑Sum Trade Tactics
Without naming President Trump, Carney criticized the increasingly transactional and zero‑sum approach that has characterized recent U.S. tariff policy. “Our reputation — as a reliable, predictable partner — has rarely been more valuable in a world where transactions are replacing relationships, and zero‑sum is favored over win‑win,” he said.
Carney noted that about 80% of U.S.–Canada trade remains tariff‑free, underscoring the depth of the existing economic integration. He argued that nostalgia for the old relationship is not a viable strategy and that Canada must work with like‑minded partners to preserve its independence while still pursuing beneficial trade.
Recent Escalation and Future Outlook
Trade talks between the two countries collapsed last month after Washington imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, prompting Ottawa to retaliate. The United States has since announced additional restrictions on Canadian products. Carney said that when the right time arrives, Canada will be ready to strike a deal that benefits both sides.
In a lighter moment, Carney joked about a ceremonial key he once received from his hometown of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, contrasting it with a set of gold keys to the White House that President Trump later gave him. He recalled Trump’s comment, “If you bring the key, they’ll let you in,” adding, “Maybe they’ll shoot you,” and summed up the relationship: “In Canada, you get the key. In the U.S., they might shoot you.”
Looking Ahead
Carney will travel to Europe later Tuesday to address the European Parliament, where he is expected to discuss Canada’s broader trade strategy and its commitment to working with partners that share its values of sovereignty and mutual respect.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
