Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is seeking a ‘unique alliance’ with the European Union rather than membership of the bloc, as Ottawa faces escalating trade tensions with the United States.
Carney said Canada would begin discussions with the European Union on closer ties during a trip to Europe this week. Carney is due to visit Britain and France and address the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The comments followed a Wall Street Journal report that EU officials were open to a proposal for Canada to become an “associate member” of the bloc. Carney said Canada was instead looking for the most ambitious relationship possible without pursuing formal membership.
“We share the same values. We have the same priorities, and we have very complementary strengths,” Carney told reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival. Carney added that Canada and Europe would be ‘stronger together’ at a time when global divisions and security risks were increasing.
Canada and the United States have been locked in an escalating trade dispute after negotiations broke down in late August. Washington has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminium and lumber, along with an additional 50 percent levy on about C$28 billion ($20 billion) of Canadian goods.
Ottawa has responded with tariffs of up to 50 percent on about C$28 billion of American products, including steel, furniture and cotton T-shirts. The trade measures have increased pressure on Canada to strengthen economic ties with partners outside the United States. During the European trip, Carney will attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address. Carney will also travel to Liverpool to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Since taking office, Carney has promoted plans for a “more independent, more resilient economy” as relations with the Trump administration have deteriorated. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about Canada becoming the 51st US state and recently ordered the US government to rename Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America.’
Carney has also urged middle powers to cooperate more closely as the global economic order changes. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, Carney said the ‘old order is not coming back,’ reinforcing Canada’s push to diversify its international economic relationships.
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