Commonwealth secretary-general pitches group as 'alternative' to U.S. trade
PM attending summit that hopes to turn shared values into economic advantage
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push for closer diplomatic co-operation between middle powers heads to a new venue this week, as he departs later Monday for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, hosted this year by Antigua and Barbuda.
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he → pitch → Antigua
As King Charles, in his ceremonial role as head of the Commonwealth, presides over opening ceremonies and hosts official lunch and dinner events with Commonwealth leaders Tuesday, American voters will be casting their verdict on the Trump administration's increasingly volatile trade and foreign policy agenda.
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voters → preside → agenda
In her only interview with a Canadian media outlet amid final preparations for the summit in the country's capital, St. John's, Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey told CBC News that in this time of global fracture, when global trade is being undermined and the multilateral system is under strain, Commonwealth members are now looking for partnerships they can trust.
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they → tell → partnerships
"We woke up one day and every one of our 56 countries had been slapped with tariffs," she said.
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she → wake → tariffs
"This is so important, that we look within and enhance and deepen intra-Commonwealth trade."
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we → look → trade
Carney's attendance, she said, "sends a very powerful signal," casting a "vote of confidence" in the Commonwealth's investment agenda and its potential to become a trading bloc.
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she → say → agenda
Canadian government officials briefing reporters prior to departure said the Commonwealth's diversity and geographic reach make it a valuable forum for Canada to "build strategic autonomy" by collaborating on issues relevant to its prosperity and security.
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Canada → brief → prosperity
They also noted that the Commonwealth includes some of the fastest-growing economies in the world — and as its second-largest financial contributor, Canada plays an influential leadership role.
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Canada → note → role
Canada is contributing to the secretariat's renewal and reform, the officials said, by promoting a strong economic agenda at this year's gathering.
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officials → contribute → gathering
Canada already does about $100 billion in trade annually with Commonwealth partners, they said, with imports, exports and foreign direct investment all on the rise.
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imports → do → rise
In total, Botchwey said, Commonwealth partners do about $900 billion worth of trade with each other.
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partners → say → other
By the time leaders meet again, she said, her secretariat's goal is to more than double it, to $2 trillion.
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goal → meet → trillion
Removing trade barriers between Commonwealth members, she suggested, dovetails nicely with the Carney government's attempt to be less reliant on trade with the United States.
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she → remove → States
PM not attending entire summit
Carney, however, is not attending the entire summit, which began on Sunday and runs through Wednesday.
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which → attend → Wednesday
After a full day of ceremonial events, deliberations and networking on Tuesday, he's expected to return to Ottawa, amid preparations for Thursday's federal budget.
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he → expect → budget
Not every head of government is expected to attend this year.
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head → expect → government
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rarely travels to attend summits like this one and hasn't joined a Commonwealth gathering since 2018.
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Modi → travel → 2018
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has also skipped the last two.
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Ramaphosa → skip → two
However, Botchwey is expecting about 30 leaders to make the trip to Antigua — a good turnout, by her estimation, and a hopeful sign of the summit's relevance in challenging times.
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leaders → expect → times
Carney's many travels since becoming prime minister have yet to see him touch down in the Caribbean.
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him → become → Caribbean
To nurture diplomatic relationships in this part of the world, a breakfast meeting with regional leaders is one of the first things on his itinerary in Antigua on Tuesday morning, Canadian officials told reporters.
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officials → nurture → reporters
Unlike the other summits on Carney's dance card later this month across Asia — the Francophonie Summit hosted by Cambodia, ASEAN (Southeast Asian countries) in the Philippines and APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum) in Shenzhen, China — the 56 member countries represented at the Commonwealth summit have all committed to a Charter that upholds human rights and democratic governance.
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that → host → rights
English is a common language across all their business communities, and while each enforces its own regulations, Commonwealth countries generally have comparable legal systems.
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countries → enforce → systems
All have committed to principles like gender equality, environmental protection and sustainable development.
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All → commit → equality
This summit hopes to turn those common values into a comparative economic advantage.
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summit → hop → advantage
"We know that [Carney] has made a lot of strides in terms of moving close to Europe, [and] also for the middle powers to come together in terms of having their voice heard," Botchwey said.
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Botchwey → know → terms
"His being here gives him an opportunity to now look at the countries in the Commonwealth as an opportunity for trade, an opportunity for dialogue."
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being → give → dialogue
Commonwealth partners offer a combined market of 2.7 billion people, she noted, 1.6 billion of whom are young people under 30.
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billion → offer → 30
"I think that it is extremely important that he sees it as an alternative [to the U.S.]"
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he → think → U.S.
Private sector also taking part
Business leaders pitching new ventures will be able to network directly with Commonwealth trading partners at several events this week, including a private breakfast on Wednesday morning to kick off the leaders' retreat on Jumby Bay Island, an exclusive resort just off Antigua's northeast coast.
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leaders → take → coast
Last month, the Commonwealth secretariat launched a new investment platform, which is now populated online with dozens of "bankable" infrastructure, resource development and other private and public sector projects around the world, seeking tens of billions in financing.
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which → launch → financing
While many of the projects listed so far are in African and Caribbean member countries, Botchwey said this isn't simply a one-way conversation designed to lean on wealthier donor countries like Canada.
Beachgoers are silhouetted against the setting sun ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Runaway Bay, Antigua and Barbuda, on Saturday. (Matias Delacroix/The Associated)
"It's a two-way stream.
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It → list → Saturday
It cannot be one-way, where developing countries are seeking investment only," she said.
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she → develop → investment
"We are so fortunate to have a mix [of big and small countries.
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We → have → countries
"
Botchwey identified critical minerals projects as something Carney could want to discuss with Commonwealth partners in Africa as well as Australia.
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Carney → identify → Australia
Are any deals ready to announce?
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deals → announce → ?
I look forward to some big deals happening," she said.
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she → look → ?
"At least, the start of these deals happening.
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start → happen → deals
"
As these potential new partnerships take off, the results of the U.S. midterms will be landing.
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results → take → midterms
"I'm sure many of the heads [of government] will be paying attention to that as well," the secretary general said with a smile.
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general → pay → smile
The Aporia
