Canada's PM Carney urges EU states to ratify trade deal

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has appealed to ten European Union member states to ratify the Canada-EU trade agreement, as Ottawa works to deepen its economic and political ties with Europe.

Tension with Washington

Carney's outreach to Europe comes as relations between Canada and the United States remain strained by a trade war triggered by President Donald Trump's tariff policies. The Canadian leader has expressed a desire to build what he calls a "unique alliance" with the European Union.

Speaking to reporters in Toronto, Carney said Canada and the EU share the same values and priorities, and have complementary strengths that could form the basis for closer cooperation.

Context

The Trump administration's trade policies have recently put pressure on several of the United States' traditional trading partners, including Canada. Against this backdrop, Ottawa is looking for alternative economic partners, with the European Union — given its large market and similar values — seen as a natural fit.

For the Canada-EU trade agreement to take full effect, it must be ratified individually by each EU member state, which explains why Carney is directly appealing to a number of countries to speed up the process.