OTTAWA – The Carney government’s first budget redirects diplomatic dollars to the trade file while cutting Global Affairs Canada’s budget — possibly by merging some embassies with those operated by like-minded countries.

In addition to $2.7 billion in cuts to foreign aid, Tuesday’s budget calls for Canada to refocus its international presence when it comes to advocacy, security and development, while boosting exports to priority economies.

Global Affairs Canada’s planned spending for the current fiscal year was $8.1 billion. Tuesday’s budget forecasts $561 million in cuts in the next fiscal year, scaling up to $1.1 billion in annual savings two years later, and for each ongoing year.

The budget says the government wants to streamline its Trade Commissioner Service, which currently invol

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