(MENAFN) Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious target to double Canada’s exports to markets outside the United States within the next decade, a move aimed at cutting the nation’s heavy reliance on its southern neighbor.

In a speech outlining key priorities for next month’s federal budget, Carney said shifting trade dynamics with the United States demanded a new direction. He set a 10-year goal to expand non-U.S. exports, describing it as vital for Canada’s long-term economic security.

The government is preparing to “build a stronger economy” amid “a more dynamic, a more competitive, a more hostile world,” Carney said.

“If we don't act now, the pressures will only grow,” he warned. “We won't transform our economy easily or in a few months. It will take some sacrifices and it will take some time.”

Relations between Ottawa and Washington have become increasingly strained this year, with Canada and the United States clashing repeatedly over tariffs. In March, Carney declared that the long-standing trade model between the two nations, once defined by close integration, was “over” — calling for a fundamental reshaping of Canada’s economy.

In September, the Carney government rolled out a sweeping infrastructure initiative covering energy, mining, and port development, designed to spur domestic growth and lessen dependence on U.S. trade.

Despite tensions, the United States remains Canada’s dominant trading partner, accounting for roughly 75% of all Canadian merchandise exports.

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