OTTAWA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Canada on Wednesday held its policy interest rate at the current level of 2.25 percent.
Tiff Macklem, governor of the Bank of Canada, said at a press conference that the Canadian economy is adjusting to the structural headwinds of U.S. protectionism.
Businesses are reconfiguring supply chains and investing in new markets, he said, adding that more diversified trade and a more integrated internal market will support the recovery of Canada's productive capacity.
"Geopolitical risks are elevated and the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement is an important risk," said Macklem.
In a press release issued on the same day, the central bank said that U.S. trade restrictions and uncertainty continue to disrupt Canada's economic growth. It projects annual average GDP growth of 1.1 percent in 2026 and 1.5 percent in 2027, broadly in line with its October projection.
The bank noted that the inflation rate for 2025 was 2.1 percent and is expected to stay close to the 2 percent target over the projection period, with trade-related cost pressures offset by excess supply.
Last year, the Bank of Canada made eight interest rate announcements, cutting its key interest rate by 25 basis points respectively in January, March, September and October, and holding the rate unchanged in April, June, July and December.
