Canada welcomes EU invitation for associate membership

Justin Trudeau welcomed the European Union’s proposal to grant Canada associate membership, saying the two partners are "strong" on their own and "stronger together" during a speech to EU lawmakers in Strasbourg. He indicated that any final arrangement would be debated and voted on by Canadian parliamentarians.

Trudeau warned that economic integration is being "weaponized" as tariffs are used for political pressure, adding that financial tools and supply chains are being exploited as coercive mechanisms.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the bloc’s aim to elevate ties with Canada to the "highest level possible" and expressed support for creating a new associate-member category, which does not currently exist under EU treaties.

The proposal comes as the United States, under President Donald Trump, has dismissed the idea as "laughable" and threatened heavy tariffs on Europe if the EU proceeds. The U.S. has recently raised tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting Canada to announce reciprocal measures.

Trudeau emphasized that a closer EU-Canada relationship would enhance collective resilience and serve as a model for other democracies, stating that Canada does not seek to dominate but to protect open markets and sovereign freedoms.

The existing Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) eliminated 99% of tariff lines in 2017. Von der Leyen said the partnership would move beyond CETA toward an "alliance for the future" covering AI, climate change, geopolitics and Arctic security.

"This alliance is a positive process; that's my response to the American president. A stronger, more resilient, more sovereign Canada will be a more effective partner with the United States," Trudeau told reporters.

"We do not seek power to dominate others. On the contrary, we are pursuing resilience so no one can control our open markets, impair our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, our democracies, our rule of law," he added.

Trudeau also met with U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Liverpool, discussing deeper trade and defence cooperation between Canada and European partners.