Carney rejects Trump threats, backs deeper Canada-EU partnership

Responding to questions about remarks Trump made the previous evening, Carney stressed that the proposed partnership with the EU is a “positive initiative” aimed at “building” positive relations, rather than a response to any external circumstances.

Carney said the potential for Canada and the EU to work together to advance knowledge, create new things and push the boundaries of what is possible would be “fundamentally positive.”

“This will make Europe stronger. This will make Canada stronger. And, speaking for Canada, it will make Canada a better partner for the United States,” Carney said.

Carney then said that “Canadians are united in the view that no one will tell us what language to speak; no one will dictate our culture to us or who we can enter into international agreements with.”

On Sept. 16, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened the European Union with “serious tariffs” and reduced trade after the bloc proposed making Canada its first-ever associate member, calling the idea “ridiculous.”

Calling the move a potential “hostile act,” Trump told reporters he could impose “very serious tariffs or stop trade with Europe.”

“If it’s good intent, fine. If it’s bad intent, we’ll put very high tariffs on Europe,” he added.

Canada and the European Union draw closer

Bloomberg reported that the European Union sees greater potential for closer ties with Canada than with the United Kingdom. The report said the EU and Canada are working to establish a new, comprehensive relationship spanning a wide range of issues, from trade to security, with the aim of creating a transatlantic alliance intended to counterbalance the United States and China.

The Financial Times, citing sources, also reported that Canada is in talks to join a €90 billion European Union loan for Ukraine as Carney seeks to strengthen transatlantic ties and reduce dependence on the United States.

On Sept. 16 in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly proposed making Canada the EU’s first associate member during her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament.

In response, Trump threatened the European Union with sweeping new tariffs if Washington views granting Canada EU associate member status as a hostile move against the United States.