Carney: Canada Is Overdependent on the US and Seeks Closer Partnership With the EU
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told DW after talks with EU leaders in Montreal that Canada relies too heavily on the United States, and he backed the idea of an "associate membership" with the European Union.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) on Friday in Montreal, after talks with European Union leaders on a closer partnership between Canada and the bloc. The discussions come as Canada is engaged in difficult trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump; the United States is Canada's largest trading partner.
Dependence on the US
Carney said Canadians have taken away a lesson: the country is overdependent on, and too closely connected to, the United States. In his view, Canada needs to build up its strength at home and diversify and deepen partnerships with like-minded countries.
"Associate membership"
The EU delegation included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Von der Leyen has floated an "associate membership" status that does not currently exist for any country, while the government of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz resists creating such a label. Carney used the term as von der Leyen does, explaining that it means the closest possible partnership short of full EU membership, since Canada is not geographically in Europe and cannot accede.
He rejected the notion of a new transatlantic bloc excluding the US, saying both Canada and the EU are partners of the United States and allies in NATO, but that in many areas cooperation between Canada and Europe will be much deeper. He cited existing cooperation such as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Horizon Europe research programme and the Erasmus+ student exchange programme. Possible areas for expansion include space technologies, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
Approach to Trump
Carney stressed that ties between Canadians and Americans are long-standing and strong. On dealing with Trump, he advised being direct, being clear about one's bottom lines, showing respect and steering negotiations back to core issues. Asked about possible new US tariffs, he said Canada has lived with such threats for some time and regards all US justifications for trade action as unjustified. The talks with Brussels, he said, are not against anyone but a positive step toward solving global problems.
