Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood comes with conditions, including democratic reforms in the territory and the release of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas, among others.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his decision to recognize Palestinian statehood over the objections of Donald Trump − who had warned doing so could hurt trade talks with Canada – and offered no indication he’s worried this will affect relations with Washington.
The Prime Minister said he believes he has the same goals as the U.S. President, a staunch supporter of Israel who forcefully opposes recognizing Palestine and denied a visa for Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas to visit the United Nations this week.
“We have an independent foreign policy,” Mr. Carney said in a Tuesday press conference after several days at the United Nations. “We make decisions that are consistent with our values. And our objective with respect to Palestine, the state of Israel and the broader Middle East is exactly the same objective of the United States, which is to establish peace.”
Mr. Trump in July warned in a social-media post that Canada recognizing Palestine would make it “very hard” for the United States to reach a trade deal with Canada. Since returning to office, Mr. Trump has hit Canada with a string of tariffs including 50 per cent on steel and aluminum, 25 per cent on autos and 35 per cent on any goods traded outside the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, with the exception of oil, gas and potash, at 10 per cent. His administration has also significantly hiked duties on softwood.
Britain, France and Portugal were among countries that joined Canada in recognizing Palestinian statehood this week but they have already secured new trade deals with Mr. Trump.
Recognition of Palestinian state puts Canada at odds with U.S.
Canada has failed to reach a new arrangement with the United States, with the two countries missing multiple deadlines this summer for a deal.
Asked how he could justify the risk of alienating Mr. Trump by recognizing a Palestinian state, Mr. Carney said Canada already has “the best trade deal of any country in the world” with the United States. The USCMA deal means that many Canadian exports to the United States receive exemptions from Mr. Trump’s tariffs.
“Eighty-five per cent-plus of our trade is free,” Mr. Carney said. “We have the lowest tariffs of any country in the world.”
Canada, Mexico and the United States are preparing for a scheduled 2026 review of the agreement.
Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood came with conditions, including democratic reforms in the territory, the release of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas, for Hamas to lay down its weapons and the militant group − considered a terrorist group by Ottawa − to have no role in the future governance of a Palestinian state.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at a United Nations conference in New York, said Canada now formally recognizes a Palestinian state. He said for decades, Canada has called for a two-state solution – a Palestinian state existing in peace alongside Israel.
The Canadian Press
Mr. Carney left the door open to contributing Canadians to a peacekeeping force in Gaza if a demilitarized settlement between Israel and Palestine was ever reached. He said in such a scenario Canada would contribute funds, material or personnel but no decisions have been made.
On Tuesday, Mr. Carney announced Canada will contribute $47-million in new funding to Gaza and the West Bank to strengthen judicial systems, governance structures and democratization efforts.
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said last week the Trump administration had hoped to negotiate a grander bargain with Canada than simply a renewal of the USMCA, a bigger deal that would have encompassed a multitude of issues including defence, energy and autos.
Last week in Mexico, Mr. Carney acknowledged a more expansive agreement with Washington was not under consideration right now.
“We start from a strong position, but a position where we can make it better. And you know, when the right deal is there for Canada, we will sign it.”
Mr. Carney, who met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang Tuesday, said the two countries have been talking about ways to boost trade and resolve a trade dispute over Canadian levies on Chinese electric vehicles.
He said this could one day culminate in a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
“I will expect, at the appropriate time to be meeting with President Xi Jinping but am continuing this dialogue with the premier.”