Power & Politics Republican senator 'optimistic' about Canada-U.S. trade talks resuming
Nov 21, 2025
Maninder Sidhu is Canada’s Federal Minister of International Trade, while Kevin Cramer serves as a Republican U.S. senator from North Dakota. They explore the recent pause in Canada-U.S. trade talks due to an Ontario ad and Cramer’s hopes for a thaw in relations. Sidhu details Canada’s $70 billion investment pledge from the UAE, focusing on energy and AI sectors. Cramer emphasizes the mutual benefits of partnership and discusses the implications of U.S. tariffs on Canada, suggesting renewed dialogues to foster cooperation.
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Trade Diversification Push
- Mark Carney is pushing to diversify Canada's trade away from the U.S. by courting partners like the UAE and others.
- The UAE pledged $70 billion in potential investment, signalling strong interest in Canadian energy, infrastructure and AI sectors.
Showcase Projects To Attract Sovereign Capital
- Entertain sovereign wealth funds by highlighting large projects and clear investment opportunities in energy, ports and digital infrastructure.
- Host delegations and showcase ready projects to convert targeted capital into concrete deals.
Pledge vs. Committed Funding
- The $70 billion from the UAE is a targeted portion of a much larger portfolio, not committed project-by-project funding.
- Converting pledged allocation into signed commercial deals still requires detailed scoping and negotiation.