Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said relations with the United States can no longer be considered normal amid political shifts in Washington, responding to questions in the House of Commons on how his government is managing ties with US President Donald Trump.
Addressing the elected chamber, Carney said, “The world has changed, Washington has changed, and there is almost nothing normal about the United States today,” commenting on the outlook for future trade talks between the two countries.
He rejected claims that he had walked back earlier remarks that angered Trump, stressing that his statements reflect a new political reality in the United States.
Last week, Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in which he criticized US trade policy and urged countries to adapt to what he described as “the end of the rules-based global order” long championed by Washington.
His remarks come as the United States has imposed tariffs on key Canadian imports, prompting Ottawa to accelerate efforts to diversify its trade partnerships beyond the US market, which absorbs roughly 70 percent of Canadian exports under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (CUSMA).
Prime Minister Mark Carney says internal Canadian review and consultations for CUSMA is “finished.” Says Canada will be ready for the renegotiation.
— Sophall Duch (@soduch) January 28, 2026
Carney was asked about what hope he has that the free trade deal will be renewed after this summer. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/pA7DeKvG1A
Trump reacted angrily to Carney’s Davos speech, saying, “Canada exists only because of the United States,” and later threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on Canadian imports if Ottawa were to conclude a trade deal with China.
Following a phone call between the two leaders on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Carney had softened some of his positions. The Canadian prime minister denied this, saying he told Trump clearly that he “meant exactly” what he said in Davos.
Carney said Canada is responding to US tariffs by strengthening external partnerships and building domestic capacity, adding that Ottawa is ready to establish a new relationship with Washington within the framework of the USMCA—an approach he said Trump understood.
He also announced that the formal review of the trade agreement, scheduled for this year, will begin in the coming weeks, without providing further details.