Canada Aims to Double Non-U.S. Exports Under Prime Minister Mark Carney

Prime Minister Mark Carney has set an ambitious goal for Canada: to double its non-U.S. exports within the next decade. The move signals a sharp shift in the country’s trade priorities, as Carney argues that Canada can no longer rely so heavily on the United States as its primary market.

Currently, over 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the U.S., a dependence Carney now calls a “vulnerability.” Rising trade tensions and recurring tariffs on key sectors such as steel, lumber, and autos have underscored the risks of putting too many economic eggs in one basket.

Carney outlined a plan to diversify trade partnerships, focusing on strengthening relationships with major emerging economies such as China, India, and other Indo-Pacific nations. He emphasized that Canada’s vast natural resource base — including energy, critical minerals, and agricultural products — gives the country a strong foundation for expanding its global reach.

“This transformation won’t happen overnight,” Carney said, noting that it will take time, investment, and political will to reshape Canada’s export map. Still, he insists the effort is essential to securing long-term economic stability and protecting Canada from the volatility of U.S. trade policy.

Carney’s vision marks one of the most decisive pushes in decades to redefine Canada’s place in the global economy — one aimed at building resilience by broadening the country’s economic horizons beyond its southern neighbor.