Envoy says France admires Carney’s U.S. stance

OTTAWA – France’s new ambassador to Canada says her country admires the Carney government’s response to “extremely radical” American demands and is calling for swift action to boost Canada’s strategic ties with Europe.

“My mission is very clear. It’s to work toward making France one of Canada’s closest allies in Europe, in each field, in every sector,” French Ambassador Hélène Farnaud-Defromont told The Canadian Press on Friday.

In her first interview since her posting started last month, Farnaud-Defromont said in French her country sees Prime Minister Mark Carney’s approach to managing trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration as “exemplary.”

The prime minister called a halt to trade talks with Washington in August and accused the Trump administration of bringing fresh demands to the table at the last minute. Carney also has vowed to protect Canada’s language sovereignty and ability to regulate big tech firms.