At an Economic Club of New York address, Canada's prime minister made the case against auto tariffs and for deeper bilateral cooperation, with the USMCA's mandatory review fast approaching

2 min read·Updated June 1, 2026

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday called for a "true partnership" with the U.S. At the Economic Club of New York, the prime minister outlined a vision that would rethink how the two countries work together in industries under pressure from abroad, according to The Associated Press.

The speech came ahead of the USMCA's mandatory July review. Separately, Dominic LeBlanc, who serves as Canada's minister for U.S. trade, has a trip to Washington planned for upcoming talks, according to the AP.

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When it comes to the auto sector, Carney pointed to Canada's status as the top purchaser of American vehicles and contended that tightly linked cross-border production was the most resilient way to meet competition from other parts of the world. "An integrated North American market for production is the best and most durable way to confront intense global competition," Carney said. President Donald Trump has shown no sign of easing tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles, according to The New York Times.

Detroit's three major automakers all operate assembly plants in Canada, and the tariffs have been driving a sharp contraction in both output and jobs at those facilities. Ontario's auto sector once represented close to 40% of the province's total exports at its height, according to The New York Times.

Carney also highlighted the depth of Canada's energy relationship with the U.S., citing figures showing that Canadian exports account for 99% of American natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports, and 60% of crude oil imports. He added that Canada's extensive deposits of critical minerals such as potash, nickel, copper, and uranium position it as an indispensable partner for U.S. needs, according to the AP.

Carney cast Canada's efforts to loosen its reliance on the U.S. as a gain for Americans as well, telling the New York audience that "a stronger Canada is a better ally," according to The New York Times. To that end, Canada has been pursuing trade agreements with countries beyond its southern neighbor and aims to double the share of its exports going to non-U.S. markets over the next ten years, according to the AP.

Carney pitches revamped trade ties with U.S. before USMCA comes up for review

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