Carney Rejects U.S. Election Interference Claims, Signals Trade Deal Openness

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday he is "disappointed" by U.S. allegations that Canada has sought to influence American elections, calling the claims "no merit" and insisting Ottawa has been careful to avoid even the appearance of interference. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul, Carney responded to a U.S. Embassy fact sheet citing Canadian federal ministers and premiers as describing plans to influence American politics. He said Canadian diplomats had already been warned to avoid contact with candidates in the U.S. midterms, following Bloomberg's Thursday report that envoys were directed to keep a low profile. Carney declined a tit-for-tat response but suggested the media could judge the extent of direct U.S. interventions in Canadian sovereignty and democratic processes. He said his government remains ready to negotiate a trade deal serving both countries' interests, adding that timing before the midterms "is up to the United States."