'Nothing normal in US', Carney denies walking back Davos speech

Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney has denied backing down from his Davos remarks after talking to US President  Donald Trump. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had told Fox News on Monday that Carney was "very aggressively walking back" some of the remarks to Trump.Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday, Carney denied Bessent's recollection of the phone call. He added that it was the US president who had called him on Monday, and that the two had a "very good conversation on a wide range of subjects", including Ukraine, Venezuela, Arctic security and Canada's recent trade agreement with China. Carney said his speech in Davos clearly outlined how "Canada was the first country to understand the change in US trade policy that (Trump) had initiated, and we're responding to that". He added that the president understood Canada's position. Later, speaking in the House of Commons about the future of the trade talks, Carney said the USMCA review would begin in a few weeks. He added, in French: "The world has changed. Washington has changed. There's almost nothing normal in the United States. That's the truth".

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says there’s “almost nothing normal in the United States now,” as he answers a question in Parliament on whether there existed “cordial negotiations” with Washington on trade issues. pic.twitter.com/NdSJGkged2

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) January 28, 2026

Mark Carney is expected to visit India in March, a move aimed at expanding bilateral trade after over two years of strained relations with New Delhi. Since assuming office, Carney has worked towards repairing ties with India, which saw a diplomatic pause under former prime minister Justin Trudeau.