No country could dictate Canada’s language, culture or international partnerships, PM Carney stressed.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to cut trade ties with the EU after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada its first associate member.

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“I think it’s laughable. If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe, on many things,” he told reporters when asked about the suggestion put forward by von der Leyen.

“If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility,” the U.S. President added.

In her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said the EU and Canada would seek to upgrade their ties from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to an “Alliance for the Future,” covering manufacturing, technology, defense, the Arctic, energy, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence.

“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” she told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended the address. The EU chief said she wanted to bring the relationship with Canada to “the highest level possible.”

Canadian PM Mark Carney:

Our alliance with the EU is a positive process. That’s my response to Trump. It’s a positive thing.

A stronger, more resilient, more sovereign Canada will be a more effective partner with the United States. And the same would go for the European Union. pic.twitter.com/rMYpESEV17

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 17, 2026

Carney Says No One Can Dictate Canada’s Partnerships

On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that no country could dictate Canada’s language, culture or international partnerships, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat over closer ties between Canada and the European Union.

Speaking to the press after addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carney said, “Canadians are united that nobody is going to tell us what language we speak. No one can restrict our culture, or limit our partnerships abroad.”

He also said this EU-Canada alliance is a positive process that would strengthen Canada’s sovereignty, resilience and prosperity, adding that a stronger, more resilient Canada would be a more effective partner for the United States.

Carney also said any final arrangement with the EU would be subject to democratic scrutiny at home. “There will be debates” in Canada’s parliament, he said, adding that the final structure of the proposed alliance would ultimately be put to a parliamentary vote.

Canada and the EU are expected to discuss details of the initiative at their next summit in Montreal at the end of October.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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