US President Donald Trump has warned the European Union of “very serious tariffs” and possible trade restrictions after the EU moved to deepen ties with Canada by proposing a new associate membership arrangement.
Trump criticised the EU’s plan to make Canada its first-ever associate member, calling the move “laughable”. He said Washington could respond with heavy tariffs or even consider stopping trade with Europe if the proposal was aimed against US interests.
The comments come as Canada and the EU look to strengthen economic, defence and technology cooperation amid growing uncertainty in transatlantic trade relations.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen recently invited Canada to explore an “associate member” partnership with the bloc, describing it as a step towards a broader alliance covering areas such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, critical minerals, defence industries and cybersecurity.
“This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” von der Leyen said while addressing the European Parliament.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is scheduled to address the European Parliament, has backed closer ties with Europe as Ottawa seeks to diversify its trade relationships beyond the US, its largest trading partner.
Following Trump’s remarks, France’s Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad said the US does not have the authority to decide the EU’s geopolitical direction.
The proposed associate membership would require approval from all 27 EU member states. While the bloc already has close economic links with countries such as Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, it has never created a formal associate membership category.
The move comes after Trump’s return to the White House led to renewed trade tensions with traditional allies, including tariff threats against Canada and the EU. Canada and the EU already share a trade agreement under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), but both sides are now exploring wider cooperation in strategic sectors.
