Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday, April 19, 2026 [1], that Canada must reduce its economic reliance on the United States.

This shift in trade policy represents a pivot away from a long-standing dependency on the U.S. market to protect the Canadian economy from volatility and trade disruptions caused by the Trump administration.

In a video address delivered via YouTube, Carney said Canada's economic ties to the U.S. are a weakness that must be corrected. He noted that the country has "faced down threats like this before" [2], referring to the current trade war and the impact of U.S. tariffs on the national economy.

To protect Ottawa from further disruptions, the Prime Minister said the country must diversify its trade partnerships. He specifically highlighted the need to protect workers in the auto, steel, and lumber industries—industries that are particularly vulnerable to shifts in U.S. trade policy.

Carney said, "The U.S. has changed and we must respond" [3].

While the Prime Minister's address was delivered on April 19 [1], some reports of the speech were published on April 20 [4]. The move is intended to protect the economy from the instability of U.S. trade threats, emphasizing a shift toward economic sovereignty over traditional trade reliance.

Canada has historically relied on the U.S. as its primary trade partner, but the recent surge in tariffs has forced a new strategic direction. Carney's call for correction is a signal to global markets that Canada is seeking to new markets for its exports to mitigate the risk of single-market dependency.

“The U.S. has changed and we must respond”

This policy shift indicates a strategic move by Canada to diversify its trade portfolio to avoid vulnerability to U.S. political volatility. By framing the dependency as a 'weakness,' Carney is signaling to international partners that Canada is more open to new trade agreements and potentially reducing the risk of exposure to U.S. tariffs.