Story perspectives

Canada backs EU associate membership despite Trump tariff threats

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Carney Pursues EU Membership

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will decide its own international agreements despite President Donald Trump’s criticism.
Carney welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member.
President Donald Trump called the associate-member idea laughable and warned of heavy tariffs on Europe.
Canada and the EU will discuss the initiative at a Montreal summit at the end of October.

Summary

Carney UN Assembly

Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend the UN General Assembly and co-chair the OceanEye International Alliance.
Canada contributes over $2.2 billion to the UN, ranking as its sixth-largest donor in 2024.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a European Security Council outside NATO, inviting Canada, the U.K., Norway and Ukraine.
Lawmakers including French MP Nathalie Loiseau and Estonian ex-commander Riho Terras condemned the council idea as undermining NATO.

History

Historical Context

After the 2004 Canada-EU Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement was paused in 2006, negotiations relaunched in May 2009 and culminated in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, signed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and EU leaders on 30 October 2016. CETA removed 98 % of pre-existing tariffs and entered provisional application in September 2017, shaping today’s push for deeper Canada-EU trade ties.

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Carney Pursues EU Membership

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will decide its own international agreements despite President Donald Trump’s criticism.
Carney welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member.
President Donald Trump called the associate-member idea laughable and warned of heavy tariffs on Europe.
Canada and the EU will discuss the initiative at a Montreal summit at the end of October.

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