Starmer in the UK meets with Carney in Ottawa before the G7 summit in Alberta
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Ottawa today ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Alberta.
The summit began amid the backdrop of tensions and violence on Sunday, triggered by Israel’s attacks on Iranian missiles and nuclear sites.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who chairs the summit, will welcome Starmer in Ottawa tonight, and the two will meet on Sunday morning before both leaving Alberta.
The UK and Canada have deep ties between the defense, climate and cultural sectors, but Starmer's visit is emerging due to tight trade negotiations.
The two countries have been using temporary transactions since leaving the European Union in April 2021.
A year later, both countries launched talks on a permanent deal, but London suspended negotiations in January 2024. The two are already at a deadlock, with the UK blocking hormone-treated beef from Canada, from Canadian and British farmers calling for more cheese exports to Canada.
Ottawa said the UK failed to negotiate a quota for the Canadian EU when Canada left the group, saying Canada did not intend to open up more of its supply-managed dairy sector to the mainland.
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Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu met with his British rival Jonathan Reynolds last week and mentioned only the expansion of trade in temporary Brexit deals in Ottawa's negotiation summary.
But Sidou's spokesman said the two did discuss resuming negotiations.
“Canada has remained in the negotiation form and we welcome the open resumption talks in the UK,” Huzaif Qaisar wrote.
“We are actively working with the UK to address and address critical trade stimulants, thereby strengthening the strong bilateral relationship we already have.”
The two countries are also increasingly keen in their statements about Israeli restrictions on food aid in Gaza and the expanded West Bank settlements – which has attracted the push from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump, Starmer and Carney are all expected to arrive in Alberta on Sunday.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
