France has pushed back against United States President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs or restrict trade with the European Union over a proposal to deepen Canada’s relationship with the bloc.
Trump had warned that the US could impose “very serious tariffs” on the EU or stop trading with the bloc if he considered the proposed arrangement between Canada and Europe a hostile act against the United States.
The dispute followed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to begin discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on a new relationship that could make Canada the first “associate member” of the European Union.
Von der Leyen made the proposal during her State of the European Union address in Strasbourg, where Carney was present. She said Europe and Canada should strengthen cooperation in areas including defence, energy, technology, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and economic security.
She also stressed that the proposed relationship was not directed against any country but was intended to strengthen cooperation between Canada and the EU.
Trump, however, described the proposal as “laughable” and said the US response would depend on the intention behind the arrangement. He said Washington would respond with tariffs or trade restrictions if he considered the move hostile.
The proposed “associate member” status is not currently a recognised category of EU membership. The arrangement would therefore require negotiations and political agreement among EU member states, while its legal structure has yet to be determined.
Canada has also not formally agreed to the proposed status. Canadian Ambassador to the EU Jonathan Wilkinson said discussions were ongoing but cautioned that the parties had not yet reached the point of establishing an associate membership arrangement.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has separately spoken about developing a closer and distinctive relationship with Europe as his government seeks to expand Canada’s economic and defence partnerships beyond the United States.
The development comes amid worsening trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa. US-Canada trade negotiations broke down in August, after which the United States imposed additional tariffs on some Canadian goods and sectors, prompting Canada to respond with retaliatory duties.
The tensions have also encouraged Canada to strengthen its relationships with European countries. Ottawa has formally applied to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a European military coalition, as part of efforts to expand its defence partnerships.
Trump has repeatedly criticised Canada over trade and has previously raised the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st US state, a prospect rejected by Carney’s government.
The European Commission has maintained that closer cooperation with Canada is not intended to target Washington. Von der Leyen said Europe and Canada share interests in areas including Ukraine, defence, energy, critical minerals, technology and democratic governance.
For now, the proposed associate membership remains an idea under discussion rather than an agreed arrangement, with Canada and the EU continuing talks on trade, security, technology and defence cooperation.
