Canada’s Carney hails new trade deals, ‘expects’ US to respect sovereignty

Al JazeeraCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera and AgenciesJanuary 30, 2026 at 12:24 AM

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In January 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced new trade and security agreements, aiming to diversify Ottawa's partnerships amid global uncertainty. Speaking with provincial leaders, Carney highlighted 12 new accords reached in the last six months, including a deal with China to lower trade levies and unlock export markets for Canadian agriculture. This agreement drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened tariffs on Canada. Carney clarified that Canada is not seeking a free-trade agreement with Beijing. He also stated that Canada will pursue trade relationships with India, ASEAN, and Mercosur, while seeking to renew its relationship with the U.S. through a review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement. Carney emphasized that he "expects" the United States to respect Canada's sovereignty.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Beijing 30% Mercosur 40% Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 40% India 40% Ottawa ×250% China ×260% Donald Trump ×370% United States ×380% Mark Carney ×690% Canada ×890%

Keywords

mark carney 90% trade agreements 90% canadian sovereignty 80% trade diversification 70% us-canada relations 70% china trade 60% donald trump 60% economic accords 50% tariffs 50%