The China Mail - Canada PM to push trade, rebuild fractured ties in India trip

Carney has said that the US-led global order is fading and that Canada should not expect the old system to return once President Donald Trump leaves office.

Hedging against the mercurial resident of the White House he has sought to rebuild previously testy relations with major Asian economies, last month visiting Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping after years of frozen ties.

Carney will leave on Thursday for India, on a visit that will be closely watched as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi try to repair ties that effectively ruptured in 2024.

"In a more uncertain world, Canada is focused on what we can control," Carney said in a statement announcing the trip.

"We are forging new partnerships abroad to create greater certainty, security and prosperity at home."

Trump's tariffs on autos, aluminum, lumber and steel are hurting the Canadian economy.

The impacts of the levies have been muted by the president's broad adherence to an existing North American free trade agreement.

Negotiations on revising that deal are set for the start of this year and Trump has repeatedly insisted the United States doesn't need access to any Canadian products -- which would have sweeping consequences for its northern neighbor.

Trump has also repeatedly threatened to annex Canada, and last month posted an image on social media of a map with Canada -- as well as Greenland and Venezuela -- covered by the American flag.

Carney says that to safeguard Canada's economic future the country needs to massively expand non-US international trade.

- 'New challenges' -

India is a key target and Carney says he wants to more than double bilateral trade, eyeing a target of CAN$70 billion ($51 billion) by 2030.

The two countries last year agreed to launch talks on a new free trade agreement.

The meeting is all the more significant given the bitter fallout from Canadian accusations that New Delhi was involved in the 2023 assassination of a Canadian Sikh leader -- claims which India denied.

That rift severely disrupted consular and trade services between the nations, which exchanged about CAN$28 billion in goods and services in 2023.

Carney will then visit Sydney and Australia's capital, Canberra, for meetings with local counterpart Anthony Albanese.

Albanese's office said the trip would focus on economic security and critical minerals, as well as defence.

"As our countries face new challenges and opportunities, we must deepen our cooperation with partners to promote our national interests," the Australian prime minister said.

Carney will wrap up his tour in Japan, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

He will fly back to Canada on March 7.

Z.Ma--ThChM