Canada invited to Ireland for EU talks alongside Trump’s trade envoy
The expected presence of Canada's trade chief, Maninder Sidhu, is the latest sign that ties are deepening between Brussels and Ottawa
Canada’s Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu has been extended an invitation to attend EU trade talks in Dublin at the end of October, alongside the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to his spokesperson Huzaif Qaisar. The invitation comes as the EU navigates a delicate balance between Washington and Ottawa, seeking closer ties with Canada while avoiding the appearance of taking sides in the trade dispute between the two nations.
Tensions escalated last week when Canada declined to engage in talks over what it deemed U.S. demands that infringed on its sovereignty. Sidhu is tasked with broadening Canada’s trade partnerships beyond the U.S., with U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc managing relations with Washington. Sidhu’s expected participation marks a deeperening of ties between Brussels and Ottawa.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to attend a European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech and address the European Parliament in Strasbourg on September 16-17. Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s trade chief, recently spoke with his Canadian counterpart, emphasizing Canada’s role as a clear example of successful free-trade agreements benefiting both parties.
The informal EU trade ministers meeting will be organized by the Irish presidency and held in Dublin from October 22-23, focusing on the bloc’s trade relations with key partners. The story was reported by Camille Gijs, Max Griera, Zi-Ann Lum, and Stefanie Bolzen from Brussels, Toronto, and Washington, respectively.
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