Canada seeks unique alliance with the European Union without joining the bloc

The EU and Ottawa are discussing facilitating the movement of workers and expanding integration in strategic sectors, such as energy, defense and artificial intelligence, according to the Wall Street Journal.

By Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney suspends trade negotiations with the U.S. — Photo: Chris Tanouye

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said this Sunday (13) that the country wants to build a "unique alliance" with the European Union (EU), but without becoming a member of the bloc.

The statement was made after the Wall Street Journal reported that Ottawa was evaluating a possible formal association with the EU.

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According to the newspaper, the European bloc would be open to granting Canada an unprecedented category of associate member. The status would still need to be created and would represent an exception for a bloc that has historically adopted strict rules for the entry of new members.

"We are not seeking to become members of the European Union," Carney said. "What we are looking for, and what we are going to start discussions about, is a unique alliance between Canada and the European Union," he told reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival.

"We share the same values, we have the same priorities and very complementary strengths," he added. The rapprochement comes amid worsening trade tensions between Canada and the USA.

Carney's office confirmed on Saturday (12) that he will travel to France and the United Kingdom next week. The prime minister will give a speech at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, and will participate in the presentation on the State of the European Union given by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reported, in turn, that it was the European Union, and not Carney, who suggested the term "associate member". Citing an anonymous source, the outlet stated that it is too early to discuss how this relationship could be classified.

Spokespeople for the European Commission did not respond to requests for comment.

Trade dispute

The escalating trade war between Canada and the United States has increased pressure on Ottawa to strengthen ties with other trading partners.

Relations between Ottawa and Washington have deteriorated since Donald Trump's return to the White House last year, amid disagreements over trade and other issues. The dispute resulted in the imposition of tariffs on tens of billions of dollars in trade between the two countries.

This Sunday, Trump once again criticized Canada, classifying the country as "the worst to negotiate with", but said he believes Canadians are "crazy to close a deal".

"They exploited our country for years," the American president told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Trump also reaffirmed his intention to impose new tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks and auto parts starting January 1.

Economic integration

According to the Wall Street Journal, Canada and the European Union are discussing ways to facilitate the circulation of goods, services and workers linked to strategic sectors, such as energy, artificial intelligence, defense and critical minerals. In practice, the measure would deepen economic integration between the two sides.

The newspaper also states that the conversations include projects to install submarine cables, build data centers, expand cloud storage systems and develop new satellite networks. Investments in infrastructure to export Canadian energy to Europe are also under discussion.

Carney has also spoken regularly with European leaders, especially French President Emmanuel Macron, about the possibility of allowing Canadians to live and work in the European Union without a visa. The information is from the Wall Street Journal, which cites two authorities familiar with the matter.

Separately, the French Presidency confirmed that Macron and Carney will meet on September 20 in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory near Canada's Atlantic coast.

Any initiative to deepen ties between Canada and the European Union, however, must face obstacles. Past experience shows that there is resistance in parts of Europe to even more modest agreements.

More than a decade after it was signed and nine years after it came into force provisionally, the trade agreement between Canada and the European Union has still not been ratified by several countries in the bloc.