Mark Carney in Davos: a fable that questions the hegemony of the commercial order

At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney staged a moment of diplomatic tension that revealed deep cracks in the international trade order. His speech, which received a standing ovation, used a clever fable to expose what observers have interpreted as Washington’s double standards regarding free trade.

The Fable of Free Trade and the Hypocrisy of Major Powers

Carney deployed a sophisticated rhetorical strategy: through a fable, he illustrated how major powers preach the principles of free trade but abandon them capriciously when their economic interests are threatened. The implicit reference to U.S. policy shifts resonated among attendees, who recognized the stark contrast between rhetoric and practice.

The Canadian leader’s speech came at a particularly sensitive moment for Ottawa. Canada has experienced significant losses in agricultural exports as a collateral consequence of U.S. tariffs aimed at China, a situation Carney characterized with a pointed phrase: middle powers are “either on the table or on the menu.” This formulation captured the growing sentiment that middle nations bear the costs of superpower disputes.

Canada Proposes a Variable Geometry Alliance

Carney presented an ambitious proposal: a “variable geometry alliance” based on more flexible and dynamic trade agreements. Simultaneously, Canada has been consolidating a trade roadmap with China, which the Prime Minister described as more predictable and stable than U.S. commitments subject to abrupt changes at the presidential discretion.

In a gesture of geopolitical solidarity, Carney also supported Denmark’s rights over Greenland, invoking the possibility of NATO intervention if necessary. This position underscores Canada’s willingness to seek defensive coalitions in response to what it perceives as unilateral behaviors.

Macron and the EU Unite in Resistance

The Canadian intervention found immediate echo among other middle powers. Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, joined in questioning the behavior of U.S. allies. Both leaders announced that the European Union is developing strategic countermeasures to protect their economic interests, noting that the old global governance system no longer reflects contemporary reality.

Is the Global Order Reconfiguring?

What happened in Davos went beyond diplomatic rhetoric. The convergence of criticisms from Canada, France, and the EU reflects a structural change: middle powers are channeling their frustration through a political fable that questions the legitimacy of the existing hegemonic order. The old system of unequal international rules faces increasing pressure from actors who refuse to passively accept their subordinate role.

The future will depend on whether these powers can translate their discontent into lasting coordinated actions, or if the momentum from Davos will dissipate into isolated negotiations. What is clear is that Carney’s fable has captured a genuine sentiment: the recognition that a unipolar global order faces its greatest challenge in decades.