Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has declared a definitive shift in his country’s economic direction, announcing the end of what he described as a “decades-long process of an ever-closer economic relationship with the United States.”

Speaking at a national policy forum in Ottawa, Carney acknowledged that while Canada’s deep integration with the American economy once served as a foundation for prosperity, it has now become a source of vulnerability amid growing geopolitical and trade tensions.

“This decades-long process of an ever-closer economic relationship with the United States is now over,” Carney stated. “Many of our former strengths as a country—more particularly, our economic strengths based on close ties to America—have now become our vulnerabilities.”

The Prime Minister’s remarks signal a major policy reorientation toward greater economic self-reliance and diversification. Carney urged Canadians to prepare for an era in which the nation must “take care of ourselves, because we can’t rely on a single foreign partner.” He also emphasized the importance of domestic unity, adding, “We have to take care of each other, because we are stronger together.”

Analysts interpret the statement as a response to shifting global dynamics and recent U.S. trade policies that have strained cross-border cooperation. The Trump administration’s “America First” energy and manufacturing priorities have reportedly created friction in key sectors such as automotive, energy exports, and digital services—areas long central to Canada’s economy.

Carney’s message reflects a broader recognition of Canada’s need to strengthen its internal markets and expand partnerships beyond North America, particularly with Europe and the Indo-Pacific. His government has already hinted at new trade initiatives focused on renewable energy, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing—industries designed to reduce reliance on U.S. demand.

While some business leaders have expressed concern over potential trade disruptions, others see the shift as an overdue adjustment to a changing global order. “Canada’s economic resilience has always depended on adaptability,” said one senior economist. “Carney’s move is about ensuring sovereignty and stability in an unpredictable world.”

The speech marks one of Carney’s clearest statements yet about Canada’s strategic independence. Whether this new path leads to economic revitalization or greater isolation may depend on how effectively the country can balance self-sufficiency with global engagement in the years ahead.