Carney, Canada’s former central‑bank governor, used the European Parliament to unveil a new partnership blueprint that would grant Canada a status similar to EU associate membership, a move aimed at countering U.S. pressure.
The idea follows Ursula von der Leyen’s Wednesday announcement that Canada could be the bloc’s first associate member, a status that would allow deeper cooperation on artificial intelligence, defence and energy.
Trump responded on Thursday by saying he would impose “very heavy tariffs” on Europe if Canada joined the plan, calling the move “laughable” and accusing it of being a hostile act.
Carney said Canada welcomes the ambition but wants to emphasize that the partnership would not antagonize the U.S.; he added that a stronger Canada would make it a more effective partner in the North Atlantic.
EU leaders reacted cautiously: Spain’s Pedro Sanchez shared a maple‑leaf image on social media, while France’s Jean‑Noël Barrot said Paris was for “ever‑closer ties” but would scrutinise the proposal. The proposal will be debated in the upcoming EU‑Canada summit in Montreal next month.
The plan comes as Canada has already joined the EU’s flagship defence loan programme and its trade with EU partners has surged 80 percent since 2016 under CETA, raising questions about the viability of an associate membership outside the EU treaty framework.