Trump derides EU pitch to Canada as ‘laughable’, threatens more tariffs

Donald Trump has threatened to impose significant tariffs on the European Union if it proceeds with a proposal to make Canada an associate member of the bloc. Speaking at an event in North Carolina, Trump labeled the proposal as "laughable" and said he would take "very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things" if he perceived it as a hostile act.

The EU's proposal, made by its Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the Union speech, aims to strengthen ties among allies amid global tensions, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and growing trade disputes with the US and China. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the speech, expressing his interest in forging a "unique alliance" with the EU, as relations with the US have soured under Trump's presidency.

However, the EU has traditionally been wary of flexible alliances without legal standing. An EU diplomat expressed skepticism about the proposal, questioning its implications and warning that European Commission President von der Leyen may not be able to fulfill the promise. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to address the European Parliament on Thursday.