The European Commission has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on the European Union following a proposal to strengthen relations between the EU and Canada.
A European Commission spokesperson said that closer ties with Canada are not intended to harm the United States, but rather to strengthen cooperation between partners.
“The proposed strengthening of our partnership is not against anyone, but for our common strength,” the spokesperson said.
Brussels’ response came after Trump threatened to impose “very substantial tariffs” on the EU if the bloc moved toward bringing Canada closer to the European Union through a possible “associate member” status. Such a status is not currently provided for in the EU treaties.
Trump described the possibility of closer EU-Canada ties as potentially “hostile” and criticised Canada’s trade relationship with the United States. He also warned that Washington could restrict trade with Europe in certain sectors.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the European proposal to strengthen relations between Canada and the EU, describing it as an opportunity to build a “much stronger and more ambitious alliance.”
Carney did not directly address the possibility of associate membership, but he has long advocated for deeper ties between Canada and the European Union.
The developments come amid heightened trade tensions between Canada and the United States. Canada considers the United States its main economic partner, while the European Union is Ottawa’s second-largest trading partner.
