Published on 15/09/2026 – 19:55 GMT+2•Updated
19:56
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Europe on Tuesday, embarking on a two‑city tour of Strasbourg and Liverpool. The visit aims to deepen Ottawa’s economic and security ties with the European Union as Canada navigates frosty relations with Washington.
In Strasbourg, Carney is scheduled to address the European Parliament, meet with MEPs and attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union speech on Wednesday. Discussions will focus on strengthening trade, investment and security cooperation between Canada and the EU.
A senior Canadian official told the Associated Press that the government hopes to secure a novel arrangement allowing Canadians to live and work across the EU without visa restrictions. The proposed deal is not modeled on Norway or Switzerland’s relationships with the bloc, nor does it involve formal “associate membership.”
Ottawa seeks a customized partnership that reflects its own priorities, with a particular emphasis on investment, the official explained. Carney has described this as a “unique alliance” rather than full EU membership.
Canada’s pivot toward Europe follows a recent trade dispute with the United States. After negotiations to avert tariffs collapsed, the U.S. imposed a 50 % duty on roughly C$28 billion of Canadian goods in late August. In response, Ottawa introduced counter‑tariffs of up to 50 % on about C$27.6 billion of U.S. imports.
Despite the disagreement, Carney told the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto that Canada remains “the U.S.’s most important partner in many key areas.” He emphasized that historic ties continue to endure even during periods of discord.
During the United Kingdom leg of his trip, Carney will meet British Mayor Andy Burnham for the first time. Their talks will cover defence, artificial intelligence, energy and critical minerals.
Additional sources • AP
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