The Tamesis
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will begin a tour of the Asia-Pacific on Thursday, seeking to forge new partnerships amid souring ties with its neighbor and ally of more than a century, the United States.
Carney’s agenda will include three stops – India, Japan and Australia – with the overall goal of steering the Canadian economy away from overreliance on the United States under Donald Trump.
Carney, who will land in India on Friday, aims to double two-way trade to C$70 billion ($51 billion) by 2030.
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According to Indian media reports, Carney and Indian President Narendra Modi Will work hard to finalize Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
They will also work is about to end The $3 billion uranium supply deal is expected to help India strengthen its nuclear power industry while providing Canada with a stable, long-term market for the mineral’s exports. The Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, contains the world’s largest reserves of high-grade uranium, according to official estimates.
Energy relations will also be on the agenda, with Canada looking for stable supply destinations for its heavy crude oil. According to the Financial TimesIndian companies are also looking to Canada as a “new potential source of supply” for LNG.
Carney has made boosting trade with Europe and Asia a cornerstone of his strategy to shore up the Canadian economy as free trade with Washington collapses. However, some experts remain skeptical about how much influence Carney can gain through trade ties with India and other countries.
For example, Drew Fagan, a public policy expert at the University of Toronto, warned that progress with countries such as India would not mitigate the damage of a breakdown in U.S. relations.
In 2024, before U.S. President Donald Trump returns to office and upends global trade with a series of tariffs, more than 75 per cent of Canada’s exports will be sold to the United States. That year, bilateral trade volume exceeded US$900 billion.
By comparison, two-way trade between India and Canada is just under $33 billion. According to official estimates.
Fagan told AFP that expanding trade relations “is not a solution. It is not a replacement and it will never be a replacement.”
Pay close attention to the meeting
Carney has also faced domestic scrutiny over his engagement with India, and his talks with Modi will also be closely watched.
Before Carney took office last year, Ottawa accused Modi’s government of direct involvement in the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Hardeep Singh Nijjar is a naturalized Canadian citizen who advocates the establishment of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government further accused India of a campaign of intimidation against Sikh activists across Canada.
India denies the accusations.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was asked on Monday whether Canada’s concerns about transnational crackdowns would figure in talks in New Delhi.
“Yes, that is always our primary concern,” Anand told reporters in Ottawa.
Still, Carney’s visit to India would be the latest effort to reset bilateral ties, which have effectively collapsed following his predecessor’s accusations.
Wednesday, Toronto Star report Ottawa “now believes India is no longer relevant to violent crime in Canada.” The report quoted an unnamed senior official as saying.
Japan, Australia, etc.
After the India tour, Kani will travel to Australia, with a final stop in Japan, before returning home.
Carney had more modest hopes for increased trade with Australia and Japan, but his office said cooperation on critical minerals supply chains would be a priority.
Developed economies have pushed for deeper cooperation on critical minerals, particularly in the processing of rare earth elements necessary to power many high-tech products.
China currently dominates the rare earths supply chain, a concern Canada highlighted during its just-ended G7 presidency.
According to Japan Public Broadcasting CorporationNHK said Carney’s meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will also involve “mutual investment” in clean energy and “strengthening joint efforts in security and defense.”
He will seek talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on similar issues. The two leaders will “discuss deepening cooperation on defense and maritime security, trade and advanced technology, including artificial intelligence,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said. report.
- Vishakha Saxena, AFP
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