Canadian Prime Minister: A US-Canada trade agreement is still possible, but Ottawa will not give up its right to deepen cooperation with the EU.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that a mutually beneficial trade agreement with the United States remains possible, but Canada will not trade its sovereignty for an agreement, and in particular, will not relinquish its right to independently sign trade agreements with the European Union and other economies.

On September 23, according to The Wall Street Journal, Carney revealed in an interview with the newspaper during his visit to the United Nations that since trade negotiations between the two countries broke down in August of this year, some progress has been made, but not enough to reach an agreement.

Previously, Trump imposed high tariffs on Canada, and Canada immediately took retaliatory measures, leading to a continued escalation of bilateral trade tensions.

Carney also stated that Canada is actively promoting a deeper and more formal partnership with the European Union, and emphasized that expanding cooperation and diversifying dependencies with allies is an inevitable choice for safeguarding national sovereignty in the current geopolitical landscape.

This move signifies that Canada will accelerate the diversification of its foreign relations strategy, and its strategic priorities regarding relations with the United States may be adjusted accordingly.

The red lines for negotiations remain, and the future of the agreement is uncertain.

Carney stated that while some of the "red lines" that stood between the two sides when negotiations broke down in August have been removed from the negotiating table, the core differences remain. He said:

A series of red lines emerged later in the negotiations that were in our favor, which we did not cross and will not cross. Some of these have been withdrawn, but one of the core principles is that we will not sacrifice our sovereignty. The ability to sign trade agreements with other jurisdictions is crucial to us.

Amidst stalled negotiations with the United States, Carney is focusing on deepening cooperation with Europe. He stated that Canada will not seek EU membership, but cooperation in strategic areas such as key minerals, energy supplies, and low-Earth orbit satellite capabilities will significantly enhance the sovereign resilience of both sides.

Carney also proposed extending the collaboration to scientific research projects, seamless digital payment systems, and even joining the European Erasmus+ student exchange program.

Currently, Canada, along with Ukraine, participates in the EU's SAFE initiative, which aims to fund military industry and technology development; Canada also works with the Baltic and Nordic countries to ensure the security of NATO's northern flank through the Arctic. He said:

Countries have realized that connectivity can be weaponized—in trade, supply chains, and various financial payment systems. To maintain sovereignty, I must diversify, therefore I need partners.

Maintaining restraint towards Trump and defining the relationship in a pragmatic and low-key manner.

Carney was cautious in his response to persistent questioning about his relationship with Trump. He said:

We focus on areas where mutual benefit can be achieved, with security cooperation often being a key focus. I listen to everything the president says. However, some of his statements may not stand the test of time.

Against the backdrop of Trump repeatedly referring to Canada as the "51st state," Carney's remarks reflect Ottawa's pragmatic stance in handling relations with the United States: maintaining cooperation in the security field while adhering to principles and bottom lines on trade and sovereignty issues.

Carney characterized the current situation as a question of the maturity of national governance. He said:

In an interdependent world, truly understanding the meaning of sovereignty requires mature judgment. You can choose to isolate yourself and retain sovereignty, but that will mean poverty; you can also choose to deeply integrate into the global community while maintaining sovereignty, provided you take action. This is the most important lesson learned in the past few years.

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