But the trip comes at a volatile time for Canada, when its ties to both China and the U.S. are strained. Carney has said his visit is an opportunity to continue diversifying Canadian trade away from its overwhelming reliance on the United States in a way that benefits both Canada and China. The trouble, Nagy points out, is that “deep economic relations with China are often weaponized,” as seen with South Korea, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, France, Australia, Germany, and many other countries. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementThe prime minister is facing pressure from these Western provinces that rely on trade with China. “The relationship with the United States is shaky, and (Carney) hasn’t signed any trade or economic security agreements with close partners like Japan and South Korea,” said Nagy.

Source: National Post January 15, 2026 10:00 UTC