# Carney backs EU partnership despite Trump calling it 'laughable'

> Canada's PM welcomes EU associate membership as Trump threatens tariffs and calls the alliance a hostile act.
- Title: Carney backs EU partnership despite Trump calling it…
- Summary: Canada's PM welcomes EU associate membership as Trump threatens tariffs and calls the alliance a hostile act. Canada is pursuing closer ties with the EU…
- Keywords: mark carney, canada, european union, donald trump, associate membership, tariffs, trade war, ursula von der leyen, ceta, eu-canada relations, andy burnham, strasbourg
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/17/carney-canada-eu-associate-member.html
- Author: Sam Meredith
- Published: 2026-09-17T10:23:30+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: mark carney, canada, european union, donald trump, associate membership, tariffs, trade war, ursula von der leyen, ceta, eu-canada relations, andy burnham, strasbourg
## Canada eyes EU associate membership
Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the EU's proposal for Canada to become its first associate member. The 27-nation bloc wants to bring the relationship to the highest level possible.

> Canada and Europe are each strong. Europe and Canada are stronger together.
## Trump calls proposal 'laughable'
Trump threatened the EU with tariffs if the associate membership is a hostile act. He called Canada a terrible trade partner and said the U.S. could stop trading with Europe.
## Tariffs are being weaponized
Carney warned that economic integration is now being weaponized through tariffs. Supply chains and financial mechanisms are being used for coercion and pressure.

> Economic integration is now being weaponized, tariffs being used to exert pressure.
## Canada will decide its own path
Carney said Canadians are united that nobody will tell them what language to speak or dictate their culture. No one will determine with whom Canada strikes international agreements.

> Canadians are united that nobody is going to tell us what language we speak, no one is going to dictate our culture or with whom we can strike agreements internationally.
## Parliament will vote on structure
Canadian lawmakers will debate and vote on the final structure of the EU alliance. Carney said there will be multiple debates in Parliament, not just a single one.
## Associate membership doesn't exist yet
The category doesn't currently exist under EU treaties. Any such arrangement would need to be created and ratified by all 27 member states.
## Not seeking to dominate others
Carney said Canada isn't proposing a third bloc to become a great power rival. The goal is resilience so no one can control markets or undermine sovereignty and freedoms.

> We do not seek power to dominate others.
## Building on existing trade deal
Canada and the EU already have CETA, which eliminated 99% of tariff lines in 2017. Von der Leyen said they'll move from CETA to an alliance creating a common prosperity space.
## Cooperation spans multiple issues
The EU and Canada pledged to work together on AI, climate change, geopolitics and Arctic security. Von der Leyen said they see the world with the same eyes.
## UK also building closer ties
Carney met UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to discuss deepening defense cooperation. The two leaders emphasized building similar close ties with European partners.
## Key takeaway

Canada is pursuing closer ties with the EU through a new associate membership, defying Trump's threats and seeking alternatives to U.S. trade dependence.