LONDON — Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the importance of his recent international trips, stating they are essential for opening new markets for Canadian products. During a four-day visit to London, Carney met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss progress on economic and security measures agreed upon in June during a meeting in Ottawa.

The two leaders focused on collaborative efforts to address global issues, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. "We are going to invest hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars over the course of the next decade to create hundreds of thousands of careers for Canadians and long-term prosperity," Carney said. He noted that a portion of this investment will come from international sources.

On Saturday morning, Carney engaged with investment firms from Britain, Asia, Europe, and Africa. He highlighted major infrastructure projects in Canada and the country's strategy to attract more global capital. "The discussions I had in New York, and here, are discussions about the overall investment climate, not specific transactions or investment deals," Carney explained. He added that these meetings also aim to improve Canada’s investor profile on the global stage.

However, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the trip on social media, calling it "nothing but Liberal showbusiness" and suggesting that Carney should prioritize domestic issues such as crime and affordability. Poilievre remarked, "So Carney gets nothing for Canada in his costly trip to the UK. The British blockade of Canadian beef remains in place and no new trade deal."

Since taking office, Carney has stressed the need for Canada to reduce its economic and security dependence on the United States, particularly in light of tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. Recently, Trump announced a plan to impose a 100 percent tariff on branded pharmaceuticals starting October 1, unless manufacturers establish factories in the U.S. Carney dismissed concerns about the tariff's impact on Canadian exports, stating, "The vast majority of Canadian pharmaceutical exports to the United States are generic pharmaceuticals. So on the face of it, (Canadian drugs) would not be affected by this."

Carney's trip transitioned from business to leisure on Saturday afternoon as he attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, where Canada faced the top-seeded English team. "I’m very excited," Carney said before the match. "This is a match for the ages. It looks like it’s shaping up well." A victory would mark Canada’s first women’s rugby world title, following a rematch of the 2014 final.

Since becoming prime minister in March, Carney has completed 13 foreign visits and plans to travel to Asia and Africa later this fall.