LILLEY: Carney’s Europe pitch works best when he stops taking shots at Trump
PM made strong case for deeper ties with EU, but too often turned trade speech into sermon about American power
U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union would be considered a "hostile act", potentially leading to serious tariffs or a complete halt of trade with Europe. Trump dismissed the proposal as "laughable" and criticized Canada as a "terrible trade partner". Canada and the U.S. are currently in a trade war, causing strain on relations and prompting Ottawa to seek alternative trade partners.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Canada join the EU as an associate member, aiming to strengthen the relationship between the two nations. She expressed her desire to work with Canada and open the door for it to become the first associate member of the EU. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded, rejecting the term "associate member" and emphasizing Canada's desire to maintain its own language, culture, and agreements.
Carney appreciated the ambition behind von der Leyen's proposal and emphasized that Europe and Canada are stronger together. He did not seek to create a third bloc to rival the U.S. and China, instead advocating for resilience to protect European markets, sovereignty, and democracies. Carney suggested that Canada and the EU could reduce trade barriers, lay underwater cables, redirect pipelines for gas access, and potentially grant visa-free access to Canadians working in Europe.
However, these changes would require support from current EU member states, with some expressing surprise and concerns over the proposal's feasibility.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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