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Oct 16, 2026 1:45 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press
Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has backed the Carney government’s efforts to diversify Canada’s trade partnerships, saying the country must continue doing everything possible to expand trade with other nations in the interest of national security.
Speaking during a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Thursday, Freeland said it was extremely dangerous to deepen or maintain close economic ties with a partner that openly threatens to bring Canada under its control.
Her remarks came amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated statements about making Canada the 51st state of the United States. In January 2025, Trump also suggested using economic force, rather than military force, to bring Canada under pressure.
Freeland stressed that even if the United States had a president who supported free trade with Canada, relying too heavily on a single country would still be a mistake.
The Carney government has been working to expand Canada’s trade relationships with other countries to reduce its dependence on the United States. As part of these efforts, Canada could also reach a free trade agreement with India by the end of this year.
