Overview
- At Davos on January 20, Mark Carney urged middle powers to unite against economic coercion, drawing a standing ovation with a call to counter tariff pressure and supply‑chain leverage widely read as a rebuke of the United States.
- New reporting highlights that Asia‑Pacific partners such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia see appeal in the message but lack a unifying blueprint, with divergent interests and security dependencies making coordinated action unlikely.
- A Korea Herald op‑ed argues the appeal remains inspirational rather than operational, urging reforms to neoliberal institutions, “managed openness,” and a candid reckoning with U.S. domestic grievances that fuel support for tariff‑led policies.
- A Daily Caller commentary asserts Canada has deepened ties with Europe and announced a China trade pact, says President Trump threatened 100% tariffs after Davos, and notes the USMCA review set to begin July 1 could be used to constrain Canada’s China links.
- A Canadian opinion column criticizes Carney’s approach as risking ties with Washington and questions the lack of measurable progress on trade and resource development.