Trump warned of ‘very serious tariffs’ if EU advanced Canada plan
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the European Parliament on Thursday that polling showed the “overwhelming majority” of Canadians supported closer ties with Europe, according to The Guardian.
Carney’s remarks came in a speech to the European Parliament in which he called for “deep cooperation” between Canada and EU member states. The Guardian, which characterized the address as “defiant,” reported the speech as a signal that Carney intends to push forward with the proposal despite the prior warnings from Washington.
Carney used the same address to formally welcome the European Union’s proposal for Canada to become the bloc’s first “associate member.” The welcome came despite prior warnings from US President Donald Trump, who said Washington could impose “very serious tariffs” or halt trade if the EU went ahead with the associate-member plan, with the US president publicly conditioning Washington’s trade posture on the EU’s decision.
The Guardian’s coverage of the development appeared in a segment of its “The Latest” podcast, part of “Today in Focus.” The segment was presented by Lucy Hough with Europe correspondent Jon Henley.
The Guardian’s reporting did not specify the polling figures Carney cited, did not detail which policy areas the EU’s associate-member designation would cover, and did not describe what specific obligations the status would impose on Canada.