Canada and Türkiye launch strategic partnership, start free trade talks as Ottawa seeks to diversify beyond the United States
Prime Minister Mark Carney on October 23, 2026 announced a Canada - Türkiye Strategic Partnership and the start of free trade negotiations, a move Ottawa says will reduce reliance on the United States while opening new markets for Canadian industry. The pact pairs trade and defence cooperation with a three year action plan, but it also raises tensions over human rights and geopolitical balancing.