Canada Begins Free Trade Talks with Turkey Amid Trade War with U.S.

Canada has started discussions with Turkey on a free trade agreement during a visit by Prime Minister Mark Carney. This meeting took place on Thursday, as Canada faces a trade war with the United States.

Carney, who took office in March 2025, aims to reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S. and build new partnerships. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the negotiations, expressing hopes to boost trade between the two countries from about $3 billion to $5 billion and eventually to $10 billion.

The two leaders also discussed increasing direct flights between Canada and Turkey. Carney mentioned that Canadian negotiators would visit Ankara next month to kick off the first round of talks.

In addition to trade, the discussions included potential cooperation in sectors like energy, aerospace, and critical minerals. Both countries are also exploring collaboration in nuclear energy and have signed a new agreement in the defense industry.

Carney emphasized the importance of building strong partnerships with reliable allies, stating that this approach would create new opportunities for both nations. He is scheduled to meet with Turkish business leaders in Istanbul to further discuss strategic sectors.

This visit is part of Carney’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with various countries, including Saudi Arabia, India, and China, after a period of strained relations under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.