Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro Praises Canadian Prime Minister Carney as ‘Most Thoughtful World Leader’ in Economic Dialogue

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, one of three potential Democratic presidential contenders for 2028, has recently met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a private summit hosted by Eurasia Group and the Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto.

The meeting took place at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where Shapiro emphasized the strong economic partnership between Pennsylvania and Canada. “Canada is a huge trading partner for Pennsylvania,” he said. “We export and import literally about $14 billion a year on both sides, and we have a totally balanced trade relationship.”

Shapiro described the conversation as lasting 30 to 40 minutes. He stated, “I really wanted to just make clear that we respect Canadian sovereignty and also do business.” He added, “While I know Canada is looking to work around Donald Trump and his administration, we did discuss ways that we could partner together to strengthen the economy of both Canada and Pennsylvania. I think he is one of the most thoughtful world leaders we have right now.”

Carney’s spokesperson, Audrey Champoux, noted that the meeting focused on “the relationship between Pennsylvania and Canada, which includes high levels of collaboration in various sectors, including energy infrastructure, critical minerals, manufacturing and life sciences.”

Shapiro also highlighted Carney’s recent engagements with other Democratic figures. At the Global Progress Action conference in May, Carney met with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elissa Slotkin to discuss cross-border infrastructure projects. Slotkin specifically discussed the importance of the Gordie Howe Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, while Buttigieg emphasized the essential partnership between the two countries.

Neera Tanden, who organized the Global Progress Action conference, described Carney as a “compelling model” for some Democrats. She said, “He’s delivering real results and he definitely takes the fight to Trump. He’s not intimidated. He’s not bullied. He’s heterodox: offering ideas from the center, maybe mostly from the center, but a little bit from the left.”