Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit Turkey in October to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to sources cited by Reuters. This would be the first bilateral visit by a Canadian leader to Turkey. The visit aims to strengthen trade relations between the two countries, with a focus on free trade, energy, and defense. The Canadian and Turkish governments have already launched negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement.
The trade relationship between Canada and Turkey has been growing, with bilateral merchandise trade exceeding 4.3 billion Canadian dollars in 2025. Canada exported approximately 1.1 billion dollars' worth of goods to Turkey, while importing around 3.2 billion dollars' worth of goods from Turkey. The two countries have identified areas of cooperation, including energy, defense, transportation, green economy, and digital transformation.
The visit is part of Canada's strategy to diversify its trade relationships and reduce its dependence on the US market. Carney has promised to double Canada's non-US trade over the next decade. Specifically, the federal strategy aims to double exports to non-American markets by 2035. In 2025, non-US markets accounted for 32.8% of Canada's exports, the highest proportion in four decades, after an 11.1% increase.
The Turkish government has expressed its commitment to concluding exploratory discussions with Canada by the end of October. Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat met with his Canadian counterpart, Maninder Sidhu, on October 1, where they confirmed their desire to accelerate talks. The two countries are working to strengthen their economic ties, with a focus on mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Canada-Turkey relationship is seen as a key aspect of Canada's economic diversification strategy. The two countries have a strong foundation for cooperation, with a growing trade relationship and shared interests in areas such as energy and defense. The visit is expected to further solidify ties between the two nations.
Canada's efforts to diversify its trade relationships come after the collapse of trade talks with the US in August. The failed negotiations highlighted the need for Canada to explore alternative markets and strengthen its economic resilience. The Turkey visit is seen as a key step in this process.
The strengthened relationship between Canada and Turkey reflects a broader trend of cooperation between intermediate powers. The two countries are working to expand their economic ties, while also addressing shared global challenges. The visit is expected to yield concrete results, with a focus on practical cooperation and mutually beneficial outcomes.
Key points
- Canada aims to double its non-US trade over the next decade as part of its economic diversification strategy.
- The Canada-Turkey trade relationship has been growing, with bilateral merchandise trade exceeding 4.3 billion Canadian dollars in 2025.
- The visit is part of Canada's efforts to reduce its dependence on the US market and strengthen its economic resilience.
