Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has dismissed claims from Washington that he attempted to retract his controversial Davos remarks during a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Carney reaffirmed his stance, emphasizing that Canada is prepared to diversify its global trade partnerships despite threats of hefty tariffs from the White House.
The diplomatic friction escalated following Carney’s address at the World Economic Forum, where he called for a shift away from the current rules-based global order. This prompted a sharp reaction from President Trump, who threatened a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Ottawa pursues a trade deal with China. While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed Carney tried to “aggressively withdraw” his comments, the Prime Minister insisted he was clear with Trump: “What I said in Davos is where I stand.”
With the USMCA review looming later this year, Carney noted that Canada aims to reduce its 70% export dependency on the United States. He stressed that while maintaining a positive relationship with Washington remains a priority, Canada is actively building domestic capacity and seeking new international allies to safeguard its economic interests.