A heckler shouted “USA, USA” as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed his commitment to closer ties with the European Union, despite Donald Trump’s opposition.
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carney said Canada and Europe were “stronger together” and insisted they were not “fair-weather allies”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed proposals yesterday for Canada to become the bloc’s first “associate member”. The arrangement would build on the trade agreement already linking Canada and the EU.
As Carney approached the podium, an audience member called out “USA, USA”. The Canadian leader responded with a chuckle.
Trump has warned that Canada becoming an EU “associate member” would be a “hostile act”. He has threatened to impose “very serious tariffs” or “stop trading with Europe on many things”.
“If it’s a good intention, that’s fine,” Trump said of the proposed partnership. “If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe.”
Carney did not respond to the threats in kind, instead arguing that a more prosperous Canada would ultimately benefit the United States.
“This alliance is a positive process, that’s my response to the American president,” he said.
“A stronger, more resilient, more sovereign Canada would be a more effective partner with the United States – the same would go for the European Union.”
Carney Calls For Deeper Canada-EU Ties
In an apparent reference to Trump, the Canadian prime minister said economic integration was being “weaponized” in politics, while tariffs were being used to “exert pressure”.
Carney’s speech focused on the shared values and principles that underpin Canada’s relationship with the EU.
“We are not fair-weather allies. We do not pursue zero-sum deals. We hold common values for which we have always fought, and in whose defence we must always remain vigilant,” he said.
“Canada and Europe are each strong. Europe and Canada are stronger together.”
Speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, yesterday, Trump described the prospect of Canada aligning with the EU as “laughable” and labelled Ottawa a “terrible trade partner”.
Carney said he was proposing deeper integration between Canada and the bloc in trade, defence, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space, research and financial services.
He said closer cooperation would make both Canada and the EU less vulnerable to economic and geopolitical pressure.
“I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival – only with better manners,” the Canadian leader said. “We do not seek power to dominate others.”
EU Proposes Associate Membership For Canada
Carney said his aim was to strengthen Canada’s resilience so that no country could control its markets, undermine its sovereignty or dictate its decisions.
“Canadians are united that nobody is going to tell us what language we speak, no one is going to dictate our culture, or with whom we can strike agreements internationally,” he added.
For generations, Canada has built its economy around close integration with the United States.
But American tariffs, demands for economic concessions and threats of making Canada the 51st US state are now driving Ottawa to reduce its dependence on Washington and strengthen ties with Europe.
Ms Von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first associate member – a status that does not currently exist in the bloc’s treaties and would have to be created.
She said Europe wants to take its relationship with Canada to ‘the highest level possible’.
Mr Carney, sitting in the front row of the European Parliament chamber, nodded and rose to embrace von der Leyen as lawmakers gave the proposal a standing ovation.
Ms Von der Leyen said Canada and the EU should move beyond their existing free trade agreement and create an ‘alliance for the future’, encompassing a ‘common prosperity and economic security space’.
Carney to Host EU Leaders in Montreal
Mr Carney will host EU leaders for a summit in Montreal from October 29 to 30, where the two sides are expected to discuss the proposed new relationship in more detail.
Canada sends roughly 70 per cent of its exports to the United States, making it highly exposed to Trump’s tariffs.
Ottawa has retaliated and rejected demands that Mr Carney has said are a threat to Canadian sovereignty.
Europe took a different path, shelving retaliation and accepting tariffs of up to 15 per cent on most EU exports to the US.
Mr Carney has repeatedly urged middle powers to resist that kind of economic coercion.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, he warned that when countries negotiate alone with a dominant power, ‘we negotiate from weakness. We accept what is offered’.
Mr Trump rebuked him the next day, and today’s speech could further strain the relationship.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s ambassador-designate to the EU, said yesterday that Canada is not seeking full EU membership because that would require surrendering some sovereignty.
Instead, Ottawa wants ‘to get as close as we possibly can’ to Europe while increasing Canada’s independence.
Exactly what associate membership would mean remains to be negotiated.
Canada has already taken a major step toward European integration. This year it became the first non-European country to join the EU’s €150billion (£129billion) SAFE defence procurement program.
This gives Canadian companies access to joint procurement as Europe increases defence spending.
The two sides have also discussed closer cooperation on energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digital trade.
