Latest news with #UKCanadaRelations
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starmer, Carney Reboot UK-Canada Trade Talks Ahead of G-7
(Bloomberg) -- The UK will seek to restart trade negotiations with Canada, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, as he strives to strengthen commercial ties around the world to better insulate Britain's economy from the fallout of US President Donald Trump's tariff war. Shuttered NY College Has Alumni Fighting Over Its Future NYC Renters Brace for Price Hikes After Broker-Fee Ban Do World's Fairs Still Matter? As Part of a $45 Billion Push, ICE Prepares for a Vast Expansion of Detention Space As American Architects Gather in Boston, Retrofits Are All the Rage 'The world is changing on trade and the economy,' Starmer told reporters on Saturday on his way to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. 'That means we need to do more securing our base at home and turbo-charging what we are doing on the cost of living and at the same time reducing trade barriers with other countries.' Starmer and Carney agreed to establish a new working group to 'deepen our existing trading relationship,' with a deadline to report back in six months, according to a joint statement by the leaders Sunday. The group will be asked to deal with market access questions, and explore ways to cooperate on critical minerals and artificial intelligence. While the two nations reached a trade continuity deal in the wake of the UK's departure from the European Union, talks for a bespoke deal to cover bilateral trade worth an annual £27.5 billion ($37 billion) stalled last year after a dispute over beef, when neither Starmer nor Carney was yet in office. Both nations are also members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, known as CPTPP. Carney agreed his government will aim to introduce legislation this year to ratify the UK's accession into that trade deal — a move that would lower tariffs between the countries. Starmer will use the G-7 summit to argue that in a shifting global economy, the UK must retain its proud status as a free and open trading nation by strengthening existing alliances while reducing barriers to trade with other countries, his office said. A trade deal with Canada was not listed as a priority for the UK government last year, when Trade Minister Douglas Alexander named agreements with the Gulf Cooperation Council, India, Israel, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Turkey as the areas his department was focusing on. But Trump's return to the White House and his ratcheting up of tariffs against countries around the world has forced UK negotiators to recalibrate — seeking exemptions from the US levies while also casting a wider net in their search for new deals. Canada was the 13th biggest destination for UK exports in 2024, taking in £16.9 billion of British goods and services, according to UK statistics. It was the 17th biggest source of imports into Britain, with goods and services worth £10.6 billion crossing the Atlantic. Since Starmer took office last July, his Labour government has struck a free trade deal with India and also smaller deals with the US and EU on trade and defense. Under the US deal, which has yet to be implemented, the Americans would scrap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the UK and cut levies on cars to 10% from 27.5%. Starmer said in an interview with Bloomberg News on Friday that he's 'hoping that we will complete it pretty soon,' and that there are no 'hiccups or obstacles.' The premier is trying to strike a delicate balance between his friendly relationship with Trump — the UK is the only country so far to agree to a slimmed-down trade agreement amid his threats of tariffs — while also standing up for British allies with whom Trump has been more confrontational. When asked for a response on Trump's continued threats to make Canada a 51st state of the US, Starmer said he was 'absolutely clear' that Canada is 'an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth' — his strongest public defense of the country yet. Canada's head of state is King Charles III, who recently visited Ottawa to help open a new session of Parliament following a national election that returned Carney's Liberal Party to power for another term. (Updates with new information from leaders' statement in third and fifth paragraphs.) American Mid: Hampton Inn's Good-Enough Formula for World Domination The Spying Scandal Rocking the World of HR Software New Grads Join Worst Entry-Level Job Market in Years As Companies Abandon Climate Pledges, Is There a Silver Lining? US Tariffs Threaten to Derail Vietnam's Historic Industrial Boom ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada and the United Kingdom think and work alike, Starmer says during Ottawa visit
OTTAWA — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the historic ties and long-standing working relationship between the United Kingdom and Canada are not just reflections of the past, but are very much needed "in the here and now." Starmer says the two Commonwealth members think and work alike, having collaborated for years on issues of security, defence, trade and the economy. Starmer met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa today before the two leaders leave for the G7 leaders' summit in Alberta. Carney, a former Bank of England governor, said he was an admirer of Starmer and had learned a lot from him over the years. Starmer had dinner with Carney on Saturday at his official residence at Rideau Cottage, later taking in the hockey game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. Starmer's visit comes as Canada seeks to reopen trade talks with the U.K. which were paused early in 2024, leaving in place a temporary deal signed after Brexit. — With files from Jim Bronskill This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Britain needs energy. Canada has energy. Why can't we work together and dream big?
Tom Tugendhat is a member of Parliament in the United Kingdom and a former security minister. The King of Canada's first Speech from the Throne last week made two things clear: First, those who moved to the true north and stayed loyal to the Crown are still strong – and free to choose their own path; and second, no two countries could be closer than the United Kingdom and Canada. For centuries, we have stood together in peace and in war, in economic expansion and in political transformation. We're not just a historic alliance with a symbolic bond of monarchy; we're bound by mutual sacrifice and a shared vision of the future. Today, the world is making clear why that connection matters to us both. In Britain, shortsighted decisions have left our homes and businesses more exposed to energy instability, while on the Canadian side, the Prime Minister has made clear there are good reasons to question the reliability of the country's most important energy partner. As Canada's new Energy Minister, Tim Hodgson, put it in Calgary: 'It's high time to trade more with people who share our values – not just our border.' No country fits that description better than Britain – and we need the same. More infrastructure needed to boost energy security in Eastern Canada, Hodgson says Even with the oil and gas reserves of the North Sea, Britain's energy position is more fragile than many realize. Despite the rhetoric of decoupling and the transition to green energy, Europe remains bound to unstable energy flows, and Britain is not immune. At the same time, the North Sea is fuelling less and less of our economy, as excessive taxation and long-term decline are restricting output, while renewables are a long way from fully replacing carbon-based energy. The result is that Britain, a country that once powered the world, is now looking at a future dependent on regimes that don't share our values – and the price we're paying is huge. British manufacturers now face industrial energy costs nearly three times those of their U.S. competitors and more than 50 per cent higher than those in France, a crippling impact on our competitiveness. The costs push businesses out of Britain, leaving us reliant not just on energy supplies from foreign countries – often with authoritarian governments – but also their manufactured goods. This isn't just about economics, it is about sovereignty. No country that prizes its independence should accept that, but it's not like we don't have a choice. Canada offers Britain a better path – one that also gives Canadians a choice. Alberta has the world's fourth-largest proven oil reserves, and by 2030 Canada's oil sands will produce nearly four million barrels a day. Most of that is slated to cross the southern border. But Canada offers not just volume but reliability. Alberta's energy is governed by the rule of law. It is extracted by workers who are paid fair wages under transparent environmental rules. It is not subject to the whims of oligarchs, mullahs or party bosses. It is democratic power, energy we can trust. Britain can open up new markets and be an even more important partner for Canada. Quebec's position on the Atlantic, with about a fifth of the country's gas reserves, could go beyond its famed hydropower and supply our islands and Europe, reducing the continent's dependence on Russia, the Middle East and coal. Together, Canada and the United Kingdom can make each other stronger. But it does not stop there. Bringing in Australia and New Zealand, we could create a CANZUK energy framework. CANZUK countries have a combined GDP of about $7.5-trillion. That's nearly double the GDP of Japan and, though smaller than the European Union's $19.4-trillion, is a democratic counterweight with the potential to lead. Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand share a monarch, common law and similar approaches to trade and regulation. What distinguishes us is largely administrative: visas, regulations and trade barriers. These are not problems of culture or principle. They are challenges of will. These obstacles should be footnotes, not strategic barriers. It's important that we resolve to fix them, starting with the mutually critical domain of energy. Canada's oil and gas can meet Britain's needs as we shift away from existing supplies. Australian uranium can power a nuclear revival, while New Zealand's renewable innovations can accelerate the clean transition. In return, Britain can provide financing, engineering and reach to speed outreach beyond the alliance. The free movement of skilled workers would see the benefits of collaboration multiply: Aberdeen's engineers in Alberta, Canadian experts in British nuclear, Australian scientists shaping clean fuel strategies across the network. This is not just trade. It is sovereignty through solidarity and independence through energy. For Canada, having options other than the United States protects its sovereignty and strengthens its negotiating position with its neighbour. King Charles spoke to Canada's strength and freedom and to the family of nations that has stood strong through history's greatest tests. Now, as the democratic world faces a new challenge of instability and economic coercion, the ties that bind us must again become instruments of strategic strength.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Carney takes swipe at Starmer over Trump state visit
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a pointed rebuke to the UK government for offering Donald Trump a second state visit, calling the move diplomatically disruptive. In a televised interview, Carney said Canadians 'weren't impressed by that gesture' given the heightened tensions with Washington. The timing of the invite coincided with Trump's provocative comments suggesting Canada should become the US's '51st state.' Carney noted, 'It cut across some of those messages' his government had been sending to the White House about sovereignty. His remarks underlined the deep discomfort felt in Ottawa over the UK's symbolic alignment with Trump during a fraught period. Carney's comments followed a contentious meeting at the White House, where Trump doubled down on his remarks about a US-Canada merger. During that Oval Office exchange, Trump called the border an 'artificially drawn line' and described a union with Canada as a 'wonderful marriage.' In response, Carney visibly recoiled and replied, 'Canada is not for sale.' The episode was widely covered in Canadian media and stirred national debate. It became a flashpoint in the country's broader effort to assert its independence on the global stage. UK officials struck a more neutral tone in response to Carney's criticism, framing it as an example of open discourse between allies. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden remarked: 'Prime Minister Carney is entitled to his view.' He acknowledged that both the US and Canada are vital partners, saying, 'Our relationship and friendship with Canada is really important too.' British leaders appeared eager to smooth tensions without retracting the invitation to Trump. Their statements reflected a desire to maintain balance amid competing international interests. McFadden also defended the state visit by emphasizing recent economic gains made under Trump's administration. 'I'm particularly glad that we've conducted a trade deal that saves thousands of automotive jobs in this country,' he said. The agreement included reduced tariffs on UK car exports and revised levies on steel and aluminium. While controversial, the trade deal was presented as a victory for British workers and a foundation for future economic collaboration. These justifications, however, have done little to quell criticism from Canada and domestic sceptics alike. For Carney, the episode served to reinforce his political position following an election win driven by opposition to Trump's rhetoric. His Liberal Party campaigned on promises to protect Canadian sovereignty and confront external pressure. The UK's gesture to Trump — hand-delivered by Sir Keir Starmer on behalf of the King — was viewed in Ottawa as tone-deaf. With Trump refusing to back down and the UK doubling down on bilateral ties, the situation revealed deep fissures in the transatlantic alliance. Navigating diplomacy in this climate remains a high-stakes challenge for all involved.
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Canadian PM criticises UK invitation to Trump for second state visit
Canada's prime minister Mark Carney has criticised Britain's invitation to Donald Trump for a second state visit, saying it undermined his government's effort to project a united front against the US president's talk of annexing Canada. Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly said he wants Canada to become the 51st US state, a suggestion that has angered Canadians and left Britain trying to tread a fine line between the two North American countries. Britain's King Charles is also head of state of Canada, a former British colony, and the monarch has made a number of symbolic gestures in recent months, wearing Canadian medals, planting a maple tree and referring to himself as the king of Canada. Charles, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is also due to attend Canada's state opening of parliament on 27 May, the first time a British monarch has attended the event in Ottawa since 1977. Carney, in an interview with Sky News, was asked about British prime minister Keir Starmer's move in February to use his visit to the Oval Office to hand Trump an invitation from the monarch for an unprecedented second state visit to London. 'I think, to be frank, they [Canadians] weren't impressed by that gesture … given the circumstance. It was at a time when we were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty,' he said. Carney, who won a party race to become prime minister in March before he secured victory in Canada's election last month by vowing to stand up Trump, said Charles's presence in Canada later this month was by design. 'All issues around Canada's sovereignty have been accentuated by the president. So no, it's not coincidental, but it is also a reaffirming moment for Canadians,' he said. Starmer, who is trying to improve trading ties with the US after Britain left the European Union, has sought to play to its strengths when dealing with Trump, talking up its security expertise, pledging higher defence spending, and offering the pomp and pageantry that comes with a state visit. Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland and who has repeatedly praised the British royal family, agreed a limited bilateral trade agreement with London this month. Asked about Carney's criticism, senior British minister Pat McFadden told Sky News that every country had to decide how to conduct its relations with other countries.
