Ansarollah Website_Reports
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to impose "extremely severe" tariffs or halt trade with Europe across several sectors if Canada becomes an "associate member" of the European Union.
Speaking to reporters, Trump stated: "If they do that, and if I view it as an hostile act, I will impose extremely severe tariffs or stop trade with Europe in many areas."
The remarks follow an announcement on Wednesday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who confirmed that work has begun toward making Canada the EU’s first "associate member," though she did not elaborate on the specific implications or privileges attached to the status.
The move reflects growing convergence between Canada and the European Union in recent days, coinciding with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Europe. Ottawa is seeking to forge what Carney described as a "unique alliance" with Brussels amid escalating trade frictions with the United States.
Relations between Canada and the U.S. have frayed significantly, primarily driven by bilateral trade disputes. After trade negotiations collapsed last August, Washington imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian exports. Ottawa retaliated with counter-tariffs on U.S. goods while actively working to diversify and strengthen its global partnerships.
