— It is more crucial than always that Canada strengthens its ties with our reliable allies, specified as France," said Carney at a joint press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace in Paris. — We know that cooperation, not confrontation, is simply a way to build strong economies He said.
Carney, who's left sworn in as Prime Minister on Friday, went to France on Monday to strengthen transatlantic support for Ottawa in the face of duties and threats of annexation from Washington side. Trump imposed duties on certain goods imported from US trading partners specified as the European Union and Canada, in peculiar for steel and aluminium. Canada responded with retaliatory measures while the European Commission said it was ready to do so.
French president Emmanuel Macron welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Elysée Palace in Paris, France, 17 March 2025.CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / PAP
The fresh Prime Minister besides called Canada “the most European of non-European countries"which may have been a plea to the proposition that Canada should join the EU.
A fresh survey by Canadian polling company Abacus showed that 44% of Canadian respondents believe that their country should join the EU, while only 34% argue this thought — although EU membership is reserved for European countries.
Macron, in turn, stressed that he and Carney shared the belief that "fair trade, which respects global principles, promotes the prosperity of all". “It is surely more effective than the inflationary duties that destruct our production chains and integrate our economies,” he noted.
Both Carney and Macro besides pointed to possible cooperation in areas specified as artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
Carney had previously visited reconstructed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and met with the Canadian Ambassador and erstwhile Liberal leader Stephan Dion.
On Monday, the Prime Minister of Canada will go to Britain to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III.
