Newly appointed Canadian PM Mark Carney heads on his first overseas trip today, off to Paris & London to shore up old alliances. This diplomatic visit arrives amid a rising rift in trade and sovereignty issues with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Canada’s special identity was also at the forefront of Carney’s thoughts as he took office on March 14, flatly dismissing any notion of becoming the 51st U.S. state. The trip demonstrates his willingness to broaden Canada’s trading, and its national sovereignty in response to Trump’s aggressive trade action.
A senior government official called it a strategic play to take a “double down” on relationships with both France and Britain. Carney will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron first today, and then will see U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The agenda, due to focus on trade substitution, and a collective response to U.S. levies. 
“The Trump factor dwarfs all of the issues Carney has do deal with,” said Nelson Wiseman a professor emeritus of the University of Toronto. Carney’s government is also reassessing a U.S. made F-35 fighter jet purchase due to the trade tiff.
And then he heads up to Canada’s Arctic to imprint the line on Canadian sovereignty. Though he has no present plans to travel to Washington, Carney has said that he would be willing to communicate directly with Trump if Canada’s sovereignty is respected.
Pundits speculate that Mr. Trump’s strident policies could lift Mr. Carney’s standing ahead of an expected election call likely to be announced in the coming days.
