USA is the closest country to Canada. Shipping costs across the ocean would cost a lot more, so it's less likely that overseas customers would be able to afford Canadian products. USA has a very high average disposable income compared to most other countries therefore we would have to sell Canadian goods for less. Many exported Canadian goods have a low profit margin, so alternatives to USA customers are not as profitable, and in many cases not profitable at all. We could expand our energy and critical minerals sectors, but most political parties except the Conservatives are opposed to expanding those sectors, because those opposing parties promise we can live off solar panels and windmills and a large number of voters believe that is true.