Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has taken a swipe at Donald Trump, as he told European lawmakers on Thursday that he backs his country in becoming an associate EU member.
Carney is addressing the European Parliament after Trump suggested that allowing Canada to become an associate member could be a ‘hostile act.’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first associate member on Wednesday, a striking overture as Trump’s threats drive Ottawa closer to Europe.
In an address to lawmakers in Strasbourg, Carney urged the European Union to join forces with Ottawa saying the two held common values and ‘were stronger together’.
‘We are not fair-weather allies. We do not pursue zero-sum deals. We hold common values for which we have always fought, and in whose defence we must always remain vigilant,’ Carney said.
‘Canada and Europe are each strong. Europe and Canada are stronger together.’
Speaking on Wednesday from Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump threatened to respond to the proposed move by imposing more tariffs on the bloc.
Trump conditioned his latest threat on the ‘intention’ of European leaders, saying that, ‘If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe.’
Carney is addressing the European Parliament after Trump suggested that allowing Canada to become an associate EU member could be a ‘hostile act’
Speaking on Wednesday from Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump threatened to respond to the proposed move by imposing more tariffs on the bloc
He also suggested the US could cut off trade with Europe in certain areas.
Trump called the prospect of Canada joining the EU ‘laughable’ and called America’s neighbour a ‘terrible trade partner.’
Carney said he was proposing deeper Canada-Europe integration across trade, defense, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space, research and financial services to make both sides less vulnerable to economic and geopolitical pressure.
‘I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival – only with better manners,’ he said. ‘We do not seek power to dominate others.’
Carney said the goal instead is to build Canada’s resilience so that no country can control its markets, undermine its sovereignty or dictate its choices.
For generations, Canada built its economy around integration with the United States.
Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state are now driving Ottawa to reduce that dependence and seek a deeper economic, security and political relationship across the Atlantic.
Von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first associate member – a status that does not currently exist in the bloc’s treaties and would have to be created.
She said Europe wants to take its relationship with Canada to ‘the highest level possible.’
Carney, sitting in the front row of the European Parliament chamber, nodded and rose to embrace von der Leyen as lawmakers gave the proposal a standing ovation.
Von der Leyen said Canada and the EU should move beyond their existing free trade agreement and create an ‘Alliance for the Future’ encompassing a ‘common prosperity and economic security space.’
Carney will host EU leaders for a Canada-EU summit in Montreal on Oct. 29-30, where the two sides are expected to discuss the proposed new relationship in more detail.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney poses for a picture with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola
Canada sends roughly 70 per cent of its exports to the United States, making it highly exposed to Trump’s tariffs.
Ottawa has retaliated and rejected demands Carney says threaten Canadian sovereignty.
Europe took a different path, shelving retaliation and accepting tariffs of up to 15 per cent on most EU exports to the US.
Carney has repeatedly urged middle powers to resist that kind of economic coercion.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, he warned that when countries negotiate alone with a dominant power, ‘we negotiate from weakness. We accept what is offered.’
Trump rebuked him the next day, and Thursday’s speech could further strain the relationship.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s ambassador-designate to the EU, said Wednesday that Canada is not seeking full EU membership because that would require surrendering some sovereignty.
Instead, Ottawa wants ‘to get as close as we possibly can’ to Europe while increasing Canada’s independence.
Exactly what associate membership would mean remains to be negotiated.
Canada has already taken a major step toward European integration. This year it became the first non-European country to join the EU’s 150-billion-euro ($173-billion) SAFE defense procurement program, giving Canadian companies access to joint procurement as Europe increases defense spending.
The two sides have also discussed closer cooperation on energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digital trade.
