Carney Pitches ‘Fortress North America’ to U.S. Business Leaders as USMCA Talks Stall

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a forceful case for closer North American economic integration on Thursday, telling an audience of U.S. business leaders that a “fortress North America” is in everyone’s interest — a message meant to reset the tone as trade talks between the two countries hit a wall.

Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Carney acknowledged deep differences between Ottawa and Washington but insisted that shared values and intertwined economies make cooperation unavoidable. His remarks come as negotiators race against a July 1 deadline to revise the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with progress lagging behind parallel U.S.-Mexico talks.

“Canada Strong will help Make America Great Again,” Carney said, borrowing the rhetorical framing of Donald Trump’s signature slogan while repurposing his own campaign line. “While Canada and the United States have had our differences over the centuries, we have always worked through them because our common interests run deep.”

The prime minister underscored Canada’s role as the largest customer of U.S. goods, pointing out that Canadian buyers purchase more American exports than China, Japan and Germany combined. It was a deliberate appeal to a room packed with U.S. financial leaders who worry that trade friction could harm cross-border supply chains and investment flows.

But the gesture of goodwill sits against a backdrop of persistent acrimony. U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer last month publicly dismissed Carney as “superior” and suggested his ego was undermining negotiations. Switzer contrasted Carney unfavorably with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whom he praised for keeping the relationship pragmatic and positive. Carney’s widely watched address at the World Economic Forum in January, in which he declared a “rupture” in the U.S.-led world order, has also rankled Trump officials.

Since taking office last year, Carney has warned Canadians that overreliance on the United States has become a strategic vulnerability. He reiterated his goal Thursday to double non-U.S. exports within a decade, signaling a push for diversification. Yet his government has also made clear it wants to preserve as much free trade with the United States as possible — a balancing act that reflects both economic reality and domestic political pressure.

Analysts say Carney’s “fortress North America” pitch is an attempt to reframe the debate: rather than resisting U.S. demands, he is offering a vision of a self-sufficient continental bloc that could shield both countries from global supply-chain shocks. Whether the Trump administration, which has shown little patience for Carney’s tone, will take it seriously remains an open question.

Mexico, meanwhile, has already launched direct talks with Washington on USMCA revisions, adding urgency to Canada’s efforts to catch up. The outcome of the negotiations could reshape the trading relationship for years to come, with implications for industries from autos to agriculture to digital services.

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