ST JOHN’S — Prime Minister Mark Carney’s quick trip to St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda started Tuesday morning with a meeting with Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Canada, “as a middle power, is very influential in the Commonwealth globally,” Browne said during the meeting. “And as we have discussions to make the Commonwealth more consequential, your contribution will be extremely valuable.” Carney, who is in St. John’s for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), thanked Browne for hosting what he called “an extraordinary meeting, an extraordinarily important meeting at a crucial time.” Carney also hosted a breakfast Tuesday morning for leaders from some 12 Caribbean nations looking to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to the region, the Prime Minister’s Office said. “We all know how much the world has changed,” Carney said in his opening remarks. “We’re all responding to it. We all know that the best response is to build out the close ties of friendship. The ties between Canada and these nations are very deep.” Canada is looking to strengthen its strategic partnership with Caribbean countries and push forward a shared agenda with a focus on security, trade diversification, economic resilience, climate action, and sustainable growth. Canada already has significant commercial ties in the Caribbean region, with annual merchandise and services trade totalling more than $9.5 billion. Already a significant trading partner within the commonwealth as a whole, Canada is looking to expand on its existing economic footprint, the currently has over $100 billion in trade with Commonwealth countries. “He (the prime minister) has a tremendous opportunity to engage with many other leaders to advance some of the Canadian government priorities, from deepening partnerships to looking at ways to enhance trade and investment ties and to advance trade diversification,” said a senior government official speaking with reporters on background during a technical briefing ahead of the trip. Luncheon with the King Carney is also attending a luncheon hosted by His Majesty King Charles III for heads of government who have taken office since the last CHOGM. The luncheon is being viewed as an opportunity for the prime minister to engage informally with the King and fellow commonwealth leaders, but also to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to the commonwealth as a platform for co-operation, shared values, and collective action, the prime minister’s office said. ‘This is a test’: International trade expert Prior to the meeting, CTV News spoke with international trade lawyer Barry Appleton about Carney’s trip to Antigua and Barbuda. He believed it could prove to be a real test for the prime minister. “This is a test of Canada’s diversification for trade and its middle power strategy,” said Appleton. “And this is one that Canada can pass. Traditionally, we were exceptionally strong with the Commonwealth.” Appleton points to Canada’s shifting trade position over the years, moving closer to the U.S. He believes now could be an opportunity for Canada to move back towards the Commonwealth. “In some ways - it is a test of the new Carney foreign policy - working with other states with the U.S. not present,” he said. “For Canada, the real opportunity at CHOGM is to move deals already on the table, with India, Southeast Asia and the U.K. and to modernize a one-way Caribbean preference program that the region has found hard to use.”
