Carney says Canada’s economic ties with US are a weakness that must be corrected

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, April 15, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File) 2026-04-19T18:11:40Z VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a video address released Sunday that Canada’s strong economic ties to the United States were once a strength but are now a weakness that must be corrected. In the 10-minute address, Carney spoke about his government’s efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy by attracting new investments and signing trade deals with other countries. “The world is more dangerous and divided,” Carney said. “The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression. “Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we must correct.” Carney said tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump have affected workers in the auto and steel industries. He added that businesses are holding back investments “restrained by the pall of uncertainty that’s hanging over all of us.” Many Canadians have also been angered by Trumps comments suggesting Canada become the 51st state. Carney said he plans to give Canadians regular updates on his government’s efforts to diversify away from the U.S. “Security can’t be achieved by ignoring the obvious or downplaying the very real threats that we Canadians face,” he said. “I promise you I will never sugarcoat our challenges.” Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Liberal national convention in Montreal, April 11, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Liberal national convention in Montreal, April 11, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP, File) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit It’s not the first time Carney, who served as a central bank governor, first at the Bank of Canada and later with the Bank of England, has spoken about a shift in world power. (