PM Carney Advocates Broader European Partnership Amid US Trade Tensions
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to DW on Friday following key discussions in Montreal with European Union leaders aimed at finalizing details of a new, closer partnership between Canada and the EU.
Amid challenging negotiations with US President Donald Trump, Canada’s most significant trading partner, Carney acknowledged that the country has become too reliant on the economic powerhouse to the south.
“The lesson we’ve learned, Canadians as a whole, is that we’re overdependent on the United States. Too closely connected to the United States. And we must build our strength at home and diversify while deepening partnerships with like‑minded countries internationally,” Carney stated.
Canada’s Perception of US Over‑dependence and EU Partnership Path
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What Did Carney Say About EU Talks and Closer Ties to the Bloc?
An EU delegation led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met with Carney and other Canadian officials in Montreal on Friday.
They are discussing the plans floated by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to establish what she described as an “associate membership” — a status not currently available to any other country — even as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government resists creating this label. Carney appeared to support the proposal.
“Well, I think the advantage of what we’re doing is that a few things are absolutely clear, irrespective of the exact terminology used. President von der Leyen uses associated membership. We use associated membership,” he told DW’s Katharina Kroll at Port of Montreal Tower.
“What does that mean? It means the closest possible partnership without being a full member of the European Union, because Canada is not in Europe geographically and therefore cannot have accession,” Carney explained.
Potential Scope for EU‑Canada Cooperation
When asked about creating a “new transatlantic bloc without the US,” Carney clarified that the focus is more on diversifying and deepening Canada’s partnerships with other countries rather than excluding its largest trading partner.
“We’re both partners of the United States, obviously close partners, alliance partners in NATO. And there are many, many opportunities for cooperation with the United States,” he said. “But in many cases, there will be much deeper cooperation for Canada between Canada and Europe than Canada and the United States.”
He highlighted existing areas of cooperation such as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), calling it “one of the most successful free trade agreements in the world,” as well as research collaborations and programs like Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ that enable student exchanges.
Carney also identified areas for expansion, including space technologies, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
How Canada Views Potential Fallout with the United States and Trump
Despite well‑documented difficulties with Donald Trump — most sharply illustrated by Trump’s attempts to unilaterally rename Lake Ontario, or his posting AI‑generated videos portraying himself as an ice‑hockey player beating Carney in a fight — Carney insists that US‑Canadian ties are too deep to be derailed by any administration or prime minister.
“The bonds between Canadians and Americans are longstanding and very strong. Big elements of that will be maintained regardless of the government in Canada, the government in the United States, or the combination of the two,” he stated.
Regarding the best approach to handle Trump, Carney emphasized that relations should be “direct, clear, and absolutely clear about your bottom lines.” He said it was important to show respect while continuing to return negotiations to core issues.
He acknowledged that the tensions with Trump have underscored the need to diversify and to seek Canada’s most natural partners worldwide.
Carney confirmed that no matter the nature of the EU discussions, “the scale of the relationship with the United States” would be “very hard to replace.”
When asked whether the talks might expose him to additional tariffs or other punitive measures from the Trump administration, Carney responded, “We’ve been living with this for some time.”
“There have been many justifications for trade action against Canada that the United States has had,” he said. “Our view is that all of them are unjustified under our trade agreement.”
Carney stressed that the crucial message for the Trump White House was that the discussions with Brussels represent a “positive association” and partnership “to help solve global problems” and address global challenges.
“It’s not against somebody. It’s for. It’s a positive act,” he concluded.
Are the EU and Canada Closing the Gap?
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DW’s Katharina Kroll conducted the interview in Montreal.
