Canada's prime minister is diversifying his country's partnerships. ABC News carries a report that Mark Carney has landed in Turkey to forge a new partnership as Canada looks beyond the United States. The report was published about three hours before I fetched the page, and I have only seen the headline, so I do not know the agenda of the visit or any agreements that will be signed.
The visit fits with a wider shift in Canadian policy. Trade tensions with the United States have been severe, with Canadian retaliatory tariffs on U.S.-made vehicles and carmakers stopping exports of certain U.S.-built models to Canada. Alberta voters also rejected a separation proposal this week. Against this background, Ottawa has been seeking new markets and relationships, including with China, Europe and others.
Turkey is a significant regional economy with a strategic position between Europe and Asia, a large defence industry and a role in energy transit. Possible areas for cooperation could include trade, defence, energy and investment, but these are general possibilities and I have not seen what is on the agenda.
For Canadian businesses, new partnerships can open opportunities and reduce dependence on one market. For consumers, the effects usually take time to appear in prices and choices. The trend is relevant for other countries as well, including Malaysia, which is pursuing trade agreements with the European Union and Thailand and exploring cooperation with Japan and India. Watch for announcements of agreements, for the reaction of Washington and for how Canada balances its new relationships with its existing ones.
