Full Breakdown
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s First Standalone Bilateral Visit to Turkey
By Drooid · · How we work
Context: Shifting Canadian Trade Strategy
Canada’s government has pledged to double the share of exports destined for markets outside the United States over the next decade. The move follows a trade dispute that began in early 2025 when the United States imposed tariffs on Canadian goods after a national-emergency declaration by President Donald Trump. Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs covering up to $109 billion in U.S. imports, while daily cross-border trade with the United States still exceeds $2.5 billion in goods and services. Diversification efforts also target China, India and other partners, with a goal to raise two-way trade with India to $70 billion by 2030.
Official Objectives and Planned Meetings
Prime Minister Mark Carney—who assumed office in early 2025—announced that his office will send him to Ankara and Istanbul from 21 to 23 October, marking the first standalone bilateral trip by a Canadian prime minister to the NATO ally. The itinerary includes a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara to discuss cooperation on energy, mining, climate, defence and security, and a separate session in Istanbul with Turkish business leaders and investors to promote Canada as a destination for trade and investment. Carney’s office said the visit will highlight opportunities in energy, aerospace, advanced technology, mining and critical minerals.
Trade Figures and Diversification Targets
The prime minister’s office cited Canada’s ambition to double non-U.S. trade within ten years, noting that India’s economy is expanding at roughly 7 percent annually and is central to that plan. Former Foreign Minister Melanie Joly is quoted in the announcement as noting that the United States previously accounted for more Canadian imports than the United Kingdom, France, China and Japan combined. Turkey’s participation as one of ten founding members of Canada’s Defence Security and Resilience Bank—a multilateral initiative created by Carney—was also highlighted.
Future Outlook and Ongoing Negotiations
Negotiations for a free-trade agreement between Canada and Turkey were formally launched at the NATO summit in July, and the October visit is expected to advance those talks. Turkey’s commitment to join the Defence Security and Resilience Bank signals deeper defence-industry collaboration. The scheduled meetings aim to lay groundwork for expanded bilateral trade and investment, reinforcing Canada’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on its southern neighbor.