Carney backs EU associate membership for Canada as Trump threatens tariffs
September 17, 2026 at 01:59 PM · Updated 29d ago
Coverage
8 reports · over 6 hours
The Guardian view on EU-Canada relations: strategic ambition with lessons for Britain | Editorial
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Watch: 'A better opportunity' - Canadians on a closer alliance with Europe
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Watch: Is Canada about to join the EU?
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All smiles in Strasbourg but uncertainty clouds Canada’s EU membership plan
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What could EU associate member status mean for Canada?
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Canada’s Carney welcomes EU’s associated membership proposal
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Canada welcomes EU proposal to become 'associate member'
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Mark Carney calls for ‘deep cooperation’ between Canada and EU in Strasbourg address
(opens the publisher’s site)Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has backed the European Union's proposal to make Canada its first associate member, urging the European Parliament to deepen cooperation across strategic sectors.
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Carney, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, said Canada was "not in a position, nor seeking to become" an EU full member, while pressing for closer ties.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the EU's first associate member in a speech on Wednesday.
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US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could impose "very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe" if the EU proceeds with the plan.
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Carney called the deepening relationship "a positive initiative" and "not a reaction to something else," responding to Trump's threat.
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Carney cited closer cooperation on defence, critical minerals and energy security as beneficial.
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Carney framed the alliance as a response to 'geopolitical rupture' and the 'weaponisation of trade'.
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Carney said details would be discussed at a Canada-EU summit in Montreal in late October.
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The associate-membership label has no legal definition, leaving the plan's scope uncertain.
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Ratification hurdles remain, including unratified portions of the existing EU-Canada trade deal.
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Divergent procurement policies between Canada and the EU complicate cooperation.
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Carney added AI and space to the areas of cooperation, alongside defence, critical minerals and energy security.
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Carney said Canada was not seeking to form a 'third bloc' through the new relationship.