Mr. Trump called the possibility of Canada joining the European Union 'ridiculous' and described the country as a 'terrible trading partner' of the United States. He warned in a speech: 'If there is good intent, there is no problem. But if there is bad intent, we will impose very heavy tariffs on Europe.' These remarks followed Ursula von der Leyen's proposal, the President of the European Commission, to expand relations between the European Union and Canada beyond the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Expanding relations and the associate membership proposal
Ms. von der Leyen, in her annual speech on the state of the European Union and in the presence of Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, proposed granting a type of associate membership to this country. Emphasizing the shared values of both sides, she addressed Carney, saying: 'Most importantly, dear Mark, Europe and Canada believe in democracy.' Carney is also scheduled to speak in the European Parliament on Thursday and face encouragement from representatives.
Read more: Ursula von der Leyen responds to Europe's challenges in her annual speech
Trade tensions and closeness to Europe
International tensions and Trump's tariff threats have pushed Canada towards closer ties with Europe. Trump has repeatedly made remarks about turning Canada into the fifty-first state of the United States, which has overshadowed relations between the two North American neighbors. Canada is trying to reduce its economic dependence on the U.S., which accounts for about 70% of Canada's exports.
Mark Carney has called for the creation of a 'unique coalition' with the European Union and previously, in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urged middle powers to cooperate more to increase their bargaining power. In this context, Canada has taken reciprocal actions against U.S. tariffs and responded to Washington's policies, which Carney claims undermine Canada's sovereignty.
New proposals and future collaborations
Von der Leyen's proposal includes various areas such as advanced industries, technology, defense manufacturing, energy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. She emphasized that these collaborations are not directed against any other country and the main goal is to strengthen shared power. According to Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's designated ambassador to the European Union, Ottawa had previously discussed the topic of 'associate membership' with European officials and is seeking to strengthen its sovereignty in relations with the European Union.
Read more: Ursula von der Leyen responds to challenges in the state of the European Union · Charles Michel criticized Ursula von der Leyen for very slow progress
