Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 17: US President Donald Trump has warned the European Union (EU) could face “very heavy tariffs” if he considers its proposed closer partnership with Canada a hostile move against the United States.
Trump issued the warning after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to work towards becoming the EU’s first-ever associate member. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was present during her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump said Washington could impose substantial tariffs on European goods or halt trade in several areas if he believed the arrangement was being pursued with hostile intentions.
“Canada's into a terrible trade practice. And now, I will say this: if they do that, if I think it's a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs, or stop trading with Europe on many things,” Trump said.
He added that the US would impose “very heavy tariffs” if he believed the EU was acting with “bad intention”, while indicating that he would not object if the partnership had positive intentions.
Von der Leyen’s proposal does not amount to full EU membership. Under the bloc’s treaties, membership is reserved for European states, meaning Canada cannot join as a conventional member. The proposed associate status would instead establish a framework for expanded cooperation between Canada and the 27-member bloc.
Von der Leyen said the EU wanted to build on the existing Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and develop what she described as an “Alliance for the Future”, creating a shared space for prosperity and economic security.
CETA was agreed in 2016 and has been provisionally applied since 2017. According to von der Leyen, trade in goods between Canada and the EU has increased by 75 per cent in less than a decade under the agreement.
The proposed partnership could extend cooperation beyond trade to include technology, intelligent manufacturing, defence, Arctic projects, energy, critical minerals, batteries, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and economic security.
The initiative comes as Canada seeks to diversify its economic and strategic partnerships amid trade tensions with the United States. The proposed closer relationship with Europe could provide Ottawa with additional avenues for cooperation in trade, investment, technology and defence.
Von der Leyen described the proposed alliance as a means of strengthening ties between Europe and Canada.