Keir Starmer has used his first meeting with Canadian Premier Mark Carney to revive trade negotiations, after they collapsed under the last Conservative government. Meeting his Commonwealth opposite in the country’s capital Ottawa, Sir Keir highlighted security, defence, trade and the economy as areas he hopes to build a closer relationship over the coming years. Securing a deal would be yet another post-Brexit win for Britain, and Sir Keir’s fourth after the United States, India and European Union.
Speaking from Parliament Hill, Sir Keir told Mr Carney: “That history and joint working of our countries is phenomenal. For years, we’ve worked together as Commonwealth members, as independent, democratic sovereign countries, working alongside each other on issues of security, defence, trade, the economy, you name it.”
“We think alike, we work alike, and I think that’s not just a reflection on the past. I think it is very much needed in the here and now and how I think we can forge our future together as we go forward.”
Mr Carney called for Britain to improve cooperation on areas such as AI, critical minerals and defence in order to boost prosperity for both countries.
Trade talks between the UK and Canada dramatically broke down in January 2024 under Rishi Sunak, largely over the issue of cheese quotas.
Former Canadian premier Justin Trudeau promised his farmers that he would restrict the amount of foreign cheese being sold on shelves in order to boost the industry.
The UK already has an existing trade deal with Canada after joining the CPTPP group of countries last year, granting British traders easier access to 11 economies across the globe.
However official government impact assessments suggested that despite the negotiating win, Britain’s membership would add just £2 billion to the country’s GDP in the long-run.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said trade would form a “big part” of today’s formal meeting between the two leaders, and pointed to a number of Canadian firms already investing hundreds of millions in Britain.
These include London electric bus company Zenobe, which has recently struck a £600 million deal with the Canadian city of Brampton to electrify their bus fleet, creating hundreds of new jobs across England, Scotland and Wales.
Sir Keir Starmer has also risked a diplomatic incident with Donald Trump after he emphatically slapped down the President’s threats to annex Canada as America’s ‘51st state’.
Speaking on his jet to the country for the G7, Sir Keir pointedly described Canada as an “independent sovereign nation”.
He added: “Canada and the US are our allies. Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and quite right, too.”
“That’s the basis on which I’ve approached my discussions with all of our partners. I’m not going to get into the precise conversations I’ve had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.”
“And we work closely with Canada on any number of issues, whether that is defence and security – particularly the training in Ukraine, it’s been something where Canada and the U.K. have worked very closely together.
Mark Carney will meet President Trump today in what will be an explosive first visit by the President to Canada since he began making his demands about the country joining America.
