Canada developing further economic and polities ties with Turkiye

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After spending three days forging new economic and political ties with Turkiye, Mark Carney is on his way back to Ottawa having completed some of his touch points.

After reigniting Canada’s strained relationships with China and India earlier this year, the Prime Minister is now focused on strengthening economic ties with Turkiye – a country that has been criticized for human rights violations and cracking down on journalists.

“In a rapidly changing world, Canada is diversifying our trade and building stronger partnerships to create greater security and prosperity for Canadians,” Carney said in a statement. “Türkiye, a NATO Ally, a G20 economy, and a gateway to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, is an essential partner in that work.”

As the trade war between Canada and the United States continues to fester, Carney is attempting to lessen dependance on America.

“The most resilient countries bring together complementary strengths with trusted partners,” Carney said in a joint statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Our goal isn’t self-sufficiency. It is collective resilience.”

“That’s why Canada is building deeper partnerships with reliable partners that create new opportunities for Canadians,” he explained.

There are four components to this new partnership between the NATO allies: trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and people-to-people ties.

Canada and Turkiye to reconvene in November

In November, the two nations will reconvene in Ankara for the first round of free trade talks.

Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Türkiye reached $4.3 billion in 2025, including $1.1 billion in Canadian exports and $3.2 billion in imports from Türkiye.

The government says that Canada’s leading exports to Türkiye included agri-food products ($287 million), aircraft and transportation equipment ($273 million), and industrial machinery ($151 million). Imports from Türkiye were dominated by consumer goods ($1.27 billion), metal and non-metallic mineral products ($480 million), and forestry, building and packaging materials ($316 million).

“Our new strategic partnership will open new markets for Canadian businesses, connect our defence industries, and strengthen our energy security, creating good jobs for Canadian workers,” Carney said. “This is a new chapter in our partnership, and we are only beginning to realize its potential.”

Canadian and Turkish officials also formalized an expanded air transportation agreement. The agreement allows unlimited access to all points in each country, up to 21 weekly passenger-combination flights per country, and unlimited weekly all-cargo flights.

This business trip marked the first bilateral visit to Türkiye by a Canadian Prime Minister. Canada and Türkiye are NATO Allies with diplomatic relations dating back to 1944.

Friction in the relationship

Even though the two countries are developing a closer relationship, Canada doesn’t share some of the same values when it pertains to freedom and acceptance.

Carney told reporters that “engagement is not approval” when it comes to doing business with countries that don’t share Canada’s values.

Even as Carney was making his way home, thousands rallied in Ankara and Istanbul on Saturday to protest the growing pressures journalists are under, including arrests, media shutdowns and government censorship.

According to AFP, 11 journalists have been jailed in the past two months, with several media outlets shut down.

According to Human Righs Watch, the Erdogan’s government has been accused of limiting freedom of expression and assembly and has been criticized for its stance on sexual orientation and gender identity.

ganderson@postmedia.com

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