The Bloc Québécois, a political party focused on Quebec sovereignty, has emerged as a vocal critic of Prime Minister Mark Carney's approach to international trade since the April federal election. Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet has expressed concerns about Carney's efforts to shift Canada's economic focus away from the United States. In September, Blanchet criticized Carney for not engaging enough with Washington, stating that he was neglecting Canada’s “privileged and close relationship” with the U.S. Recently, he responded to Carney's dismissive remark, “who cares?” regarding his communication with U.S. President Donald Trump. Blanchet argued that such comments do not help in re-establishing vital relations with the United States. Polls indicate that Bloc supporters harbor significant hostility toward Trump, with 47 percent viewing the U.S. as an “enemy country.” Despite their general discontent with the U.S., the Bloc is advocating for a more amicable approach from Ottawa toward Washington. This stance is driven by the practical reality that, despite Carney's rhetoric about diversifying trade, the U.S. market remains irreplaceable for Canada. Following the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade negotiations in late October, Carney has maintained his strategy of seeking alternative markets for Canadian goods. His “who cares?” comment was made during a press briefing at the recent G20 summit, where he stated, “I’ll speak to him again when it matters.” In a speech promoting the 2025 federal budget, Carney described Canada’s proximity to the U.S. as a “vulnerability,” suggesting that past strengths have turned into weaknesses. He emphasized that Canada could achieve more independently than it could lose from the U.S. relationship. In recent months, Carney has traveled extensively on CanForceOne to promote trade diversification, visiting regions that have seen little engagement from previous prime ministers. Notably, he led a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, the first by a Canadian prime minister in 40 years. In 2023, the Middle East and Africa accounted for only 1.6 percent of Canadian merchandise exports, while the U.S. represented 77.1 percent. Carney's trips have often resulted in non-binding agreements rather than formal trade deals. For example, a “joint declaration of intent” with Germany included pledges for joint research and development but lacked concrete commitments. Similarly, a Mexico-Canada Action Plan signed in September contained vague statements about the importance of trade facilitation. Even if these agreements are fully realized, they would only marginally impact Canada's trade landscape compared to the U.S. Carney has highlighted some agreements that would replace only a few hours of merchandise trade with the United States. Last week, the Prime Minister’s Office announced a potential Canada-South Africa Foreign Investment agreement, but details remain sparse. As the Bloc Québécois continues to challenge Carney's trade policies, the future of Canada's economic relationship with the U.S. remains uncertain, with many questioning the viability of diversifying trade away from its largest partner.