Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to be clear about one thing: Canada is not trying to join the European Union. It just wants to get a lot closer to it.
"We're not looking to become a member of the European Union," Carney told reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday. He explained that Canada is kicking off discussions for a "unique alliance" with the EU, pointing to their shared values, priorities and complementary strengths, Reuters reported.
The Prime Minister's office confirmed on Saturday that Carney will be visiting France and Britain next week. His itinerary includes addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg and attending EU President Ursula von der Leyen's State of the European Union address.
Canada, EU Explore Closer Ties: Report
Carney's clarification on Canada's position followed a Wall Street Journal report which suggested that Canada was considering becoming an "associate member" of the EU. Unnamed officials from both sides reportedly stated that the EU, known for its strict membership regulations, is open to granting Canada a new status of associate membership.
According to the report, Canada and the EU are exploring closer economic and strategic integration, including easier movement of goods, services and workers in key sectors such as energy, AI, defense and critical minerals. Discussions also cover joint projects involving undersea cables, data centers, cloud storage, satellite networks and infrastructure to export Canadian energy to Europe.
Canada Seeks Alternatives to US Trade Ties
Canada's worsening trade conflict with the U.S. has accelerated its efforts to diversify trade relationships and seek alternative markets. The collapse of U.S.-Canada trade talks has further escalated a tariff dispute that is affecting billions of dollars in cross-border trade.
Carney expressed concerns over Canada's heavy reliance on the U.S. for economic partnership.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Canada, calling it the "worst country to deal with" while saying he believed Ottawa was eager to reach a deal. He also reiterated plans to impose new tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks and auto parts starting Jan. 1, Reuters reported.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.
