James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
Reports in The Mail on Sunday indicate that the Government of Canada is giving renewed attention to a CANZUK partnership with Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, following the abrupt collapse of trade talks with the United States last month.
Sources familiar with the situation told the newspaper that ministers in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government are warming to the idea as Ottawa looks to reduce its dependence on the United States.
One source said: “I think if you asked anyone in the government, they would all say they are very supportive of this CANZUK idea.”
One source said: “I think if you asked anyone in the government, they would all say they are very supportive of this CANZUK idea.”
The same source described a “historic opportunity” for Canada and the United Kingdom to deepen trade ties, noting that both countries have become “estranged” from their largest trading partners – the United States and the European Union, respectively.
Canadian diplomatic sources were also reported as encouraging about early discussions with the new British government. Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office in July. Officials in Ottawa were quoted as saying that while the change of prime minister and a cabinet reshuffle had made talks “difficult”, “in preliminary discussions we’re sensing a real openness and desire to move on that.”
The reporting comes against a rapidly deteriorating Canada–United States trade relationship. After more than a year of negotiations, Canada withdrew its team from Washington in late August. The United States then imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on around US$20 billion of Canadian goods. Canada has responded with matching “dollar-for-dollar” tariffs on a comparable value of American products, which will come into force on September 8th.
This is not a new conversation in Ottawa or London. During the 2025 Liberal leadership contest, Mr Carney identified closer commercial relationships with Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom as part of Canada’s response to U.S. tariff pressure.
In March 2026, Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre used a visit to London to call for “a modern CANZUK” — a pact to open the four economies further, recognise professional credentials, expand skilled labour mobility and deepen capital markets. In the same month, UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch publicly backed a CANZUK economic grouping, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has also argued for closer trade, intelligence and defence cooperation among the four countries.
CANZUK International welcomes the reported openness in Ottawa and the constructive tone of early discussions with London. We encourage the governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to convert that interest into a formal work programme on trade, mobility and foreign-policy coordination. The case for closer CANZUK ties has always rested on shared values and complementary economies. Recent events have made the strategic case equally clear.
Canadian diplomatic sources were also reported as encouraging about early discussions with the new British government. Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office in July. Officials in Ottawa were quoted as saying that while the change of prime minister and a cabinet reshuffle had made talks “difficult”, “in preliminary discussions we’re sensing a real openness and desire to move on that.”
The reporting comes against a rapidly deteriorating Canada–United States trade relationship. After more than a year of negotiations, Canada withdrew its team from Washington in late August. The United States then imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on around US$20 billion of Canadian goods. Canada has responded with matching “dollar-for-dollar” tariffs on a comparable value of American products, which will come into force on September 8th.
This is not a new conversation in Ottawa or London. During the 2025 Liberal leadership contest, Mr Carney identified closer commercial relationships with Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom as part of Canada’s response to U.S. tariff pressure.
In March 2026, Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre used a visit to London to call for “a modern CANZUK” — a pact to open the four economies further, recognise professional credentials, expand skilled labour mobility and deepen capital markets. In the same month, UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch publicly backed a CANZUK economic grouping, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has also argued for closer trade, intelligence and defence cooperation among the four countries.
CANZUK International welcomes the reported openness in Ottawa and the constructive tone of early discussions with London. We encourage the governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to convert that interest into a formal work programme on trade, mobility and foreign-policy coordination. The case for closer CANZUK ties has always rested on shared values and complementary economies. Recent events have made the strategic case equally clear.
Heading photo: Prime Minister Mark Carney: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
Share this:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email
