Canada's Carney visits Turkey in push to ease US trade dependence

Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet President Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey on Thursday, marking the first bilateral visit by a Canadian leader, as he seeks to deepen trade with other "middle powers" and ease dependence on the US.



Carney and Erdogan are expected to sign a declaration deepening cooperation in four areas including defense and energy, a person briefed on the matter said.



Carney is on a global trade blitz that he hopes will help buffer Canada from a trade war with the US, where President Donald Trump has applied sweeping tariffs and questioned the neighboring country's sovereignty.



NATO member Turkey seeks new investment and collaboration for its burgeoning defence industry, new nuclear power plants and mining sector.



Carney's office said the visit aims “to position Canada as a key partner in trade and investment".



In the last year, Canada has signed more than 20 trade deals as part of Carney's push to double non-US exports in the next decade. He flew to Beijing in January to reset fractured relations with China, striking a deal that slashed tariffs on electric vehicles and canola.