After Trump threat, EU says Canada alliance plan ‘not against anyone’.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada an associate member of the bloc, but the move is not directed against the United States, the European Commission stated after President Donald Trump threatened trade ties over the plan. Trump referred to the proposal as "laughable" on Wednesday, threatening very serious tariffs or stopping trade with Europe if the plan goes ahead.

Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said the proposal is aimed at strengthening common strength, not against anyone else. Von der Leyen introduced the idea during a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has been pursuing closer ties with the EU due to increasing trade tensions with the US.

The proposal includes cooperation in critical minerals, AI, intelligence manufacturing, and the Arctic, but it remains unclear how it could be implemented as EU treaties do not allow for associate members. Trump's reaction to the proposal shows the sensitivity surrounding the plan, with the EU and Canada already having a strong trade relationship through the CETA free-trade agreement, which has increased trade by over 80% since 2016.