Starmer hints at revival of UK-Canada trade talks ahead of G7 summit
The Prime Minister said the world's 'changing' economy means Britain must aim to reduce barriers with other allies as he flew to Ottawa for the first visit by a UK leader to the country in eight years.
Negotiations between Britain and Canada on a post-Brexit trade agreement were halted last year under the previous Tory administration amid disputes over beef and cheese.
The Government has reached economic deals with India, the US and the EU in recent months and is looking to pursue further deals with other allies to mitigate the threat of US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Sir Keir will be walking a diplomatic tightrope between strengthening bilateral relations with Ottawa and keeping the US president, who has expressed desires to annex the country as a '51st state', on side.
Asked about the prospect of a trade agreement with Canada, the Prime Minister told reporters travelling with him to Ottawa on Saturday: 'I want to increase our trade with Canada and I will be discussing how we do so with Mark Carney.
'I have known Mark a long time, we are allies and colleagues and I have a very good relationship with him. We do a lot of trade with Canada as it is.
'Some months ago I said the world is changing on trade and the economy, just as it is changing on defence and security and I think that means we need to be more securing our base at home and turbo-charging what we are doing on the cost of living and at the same time reducing trade barriers with other countries.
'I've been expressing that in my discussions with Mark Carney and he is in the same position.'
The Prime Minister said the interests of British citizens would be at the heart of his conversations with all international leaders as he prepares for a week of diplomacy at the G7 summit.
The UK and Canada have a trade relationship worth £28 billion to the British economy and are both members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Donald Trump has expressed a desire for Canada to become the '51st state' of the US (Niall Carson/PA)
Sir Keir will fly from Ottawa to Kananaskis in the Canadian mountains for talks with counterparts from the world's leading economies.
Spiralling conflict in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine will be top of the agenda in the talks between the UK, Canada, the US, France, Italy, Japan and Germany.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend.
Number 10 said the Prime Minister would use the trip to urge 'restraint and de-escalation' after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel overnight.
'In these dangerous times, I am determined to forge a unique path to secure and renew Britain in an era of global instability,' he said.
Sir Keir is also expected to meet Mr Trump, with whom he said he is in the 'final stages' of completing an agreed-upon US-UK trade deal, at the G7 summit.
The Prime Minister told reporters on Saturday he had a 'good relationship' with the US president and 'that's important'.
'I've been saying, for probably the best part of six months now, we're in a new era of defence and security, a new era for trade and the economy,' he said.
'And I think it's really important for Britain to play a leading part in that, and that's what I'll be doing at the G7, talking to all of our partners in a constructive way.
'And I'm very pleased that I have developed good relations with all the G7 leaders to the point where… I have a very good relations with all of them.'
Mr Carney has previously criticised the UK Government's invitation for Mr Trump to make a second state visit, telling Sky News earlier this year that Canadians were 'not impressed' by the gesture.
In his strongest defence yet of the nation, Sir Keir said on Saturday he was 'absolutely clear' that Canada was an 'independent, sovereign country' and 'quite right too'.
'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,' he said.
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