Carney's new love-in with EU has everything to do with Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking a closer economic alliance with the European Union amid escalating trade tensions with the United States. The move follows aggressive tariff policies from President Donald Trump, prompting Canada to explore associate membership status with the EU.
Why it matters
This shift signals a potential realignment of North American trade relations and highlights the growing geopolitical friction between the US and its traditional allies.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Katya Adler Europe editor Getty Images Carney is a guest of von der Leyen in Strasbourg this week "Wouldn't it be lovely if Canada was the 28th state of the European Union rather than the 51st state of the United States?" asked Finland's President Alexander Stubb this summer.
The question was rather tongue-in-cheek. US President Donald Trump, who is currently locked in an escalating tariff tussle with Ottawa, has, on a number of occasions, declared his ambition to make Canada the 51st American state - causing deep offence amongst many Canadians.
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