Trade blocs, Arctic geopolitics, and middle-power hedging

The Canada-US rupture remains active: Trump and Carney say their teams are developing a possible trade-deal concept, but tariffs remain in place and no agreement is confirmed. Canada’s two-year extension of its market-access arrangement with China through 2028 highlights Ottawa’s balancing act; Mahama’s praise for Carney’s WEF call and Ottawa’s reported Africa-envoy plan add a Global South follow-up, with policy details still unclear. Recent diversification commentary is a framing lead, not a confirmed policy shift.