Carney talked trade with Gulf countries at Egypt peace summit

 Prime Minister Mark Carney used a hastily convened meeting with world leaders at U.S. President Donald Trump's peace summit in Egypt on Monday to push for deeper trade ties with several countries in the Middle East.

A senior government official, speaking on background due to the sensitivity of diplomatic talks, told The Canadian Press the meeting led to both productive talks on postwar plans for Gaza and helpful discussions on deepening Canada's economic and diplomatic relationships in the Persian Gulf region.

The source said when Trump was hours late for the gathering, world leaders, who were stuck in the same room without the standard diplomatic formalities and intermediaries, took part in discussions that were more frank and personal than the usual exchanges at these events.

As Canada looks to pivot from over-dependence on trade with the United States to more diverse trade ties with other nations, Europe has been Ottawa's number 1 target. But the Gulf region, where Canada has had little presence in the past, is emerging as a close second, the official said.

On the margins of the trip, Carney spoke with top officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

The official said these discussions were part of ongoing conversations about foreign investment, trade agreements and closer co-operation.