Pierre Poilievre says he wants to build closer ties with like-minded Commonwealth countries through an alliance that would see critical minerals sent abroad without tariffs.
The Conservative leader, in London to give the 2026 Margaret Thatcher Lecture at Britain’s Centre for Policy Studies on Tuesday, says a trade deal between Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand can strengthen each country’s economies.
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Included in the trade proposal is a critical minerals and energy strategy , the opposition leader said, as both would be made available to Canada’s allies at commercial prices and without tariffs in the event of a conflict.
There is an opportunity for nuclear energy cooperation as well, he added, and signing a supply arrangement with Britain to sell liquefied natural gas will help meet that country’s future energy needs.
“Now more than ever, Canada must begin to trade, deeper ties with places like the United Kingdom. One way is through free trade with old friends, strengthen the bonds that we have between us,” he said.
“For generations, Canadians and Brits traded, invested, and fought on the same side of wars. The United Kingdom has long been one of Canada’s leading investment partners. And much is happening in the world today that needs to bind us together.”
Trade disrupted by U.S. tariffs
Canada has seen its trade relationship with the United States deteriorate over the past year after President Donald Trump enacted tariffs on goods crossing the border.
While the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement protects products from Trump’s tariffs, there is uncertainty that the deal will still be in place beyond this summer as trade irritants such as protections for the dairy and lumber industry could hamper the renegotiation.
Poilievre said his plan, dubbed CANZUK, would open each country’s economies by removing barriers, which in turn would lower prices of goods and boost wages.
For example, a doctor, nurse, or engineer who is licensed in one country could practice in all four. In addition, a product approved in one country would bypass regulatory measures in other jurisdictions.
The plan would also see high-skilled workers be able to freely move to one of the other three countries to fill employee shortages.
“For generations, free markets lowered costs, raised wages, and lifted billions out of poverty,” Poilievre said.
“Yet, they’re facing major pushback today from the twin threats of socialism and protectionism. (Those) risks turn the wealth of nations into the poverty of the people.”
Strong economies, better leverage
Poilievre said economies that are stronger at home will lead to better trade leverage abroad.
“Some of that leverage will be for Canada to have a deeper trade with many of our allies, especially the mother country,” he said. “Otherwise put, we need free trade with other free nations.”
Poilievre said, because supply chains have been disrupted south of the border, less trusted nations are able to step forward and fill the gap.
“That is not a future that serves our people. In such a world, warm words about old alliances are not enough,” he said.
“When the treaties and agreements that allow us to trade freely face upheaval, we need to double down and deepen our ties with our old and most trusted friend. Instead of shrinking markets behind tariffs, we should expand opportunities among friends.”