EU-Canada association project: Brussels reassures in the face of threats from Donald Trump

The proposed association between the European Union and Canada is in no way an anti-American alliance, Brussels tried to reassure on Thursday, after threats of reprisals from United States President Donald Trump.

Against a backdrop of disenchantment with the United States, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen proposed on Wednesday that Canada could become the first “associate member” country of the EU, in the presence of Prime Minister Mark Carney. “The proposal to strengthen our partnership with Canada is not directed against anyone,” declared Olof Gill, spokesperson for the European Commission on Trade.

Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to cut off trade with the EU in reaction to this proposal. “I find it ridiculous,” the US president told reporters when asked about the subject. “If they do this, if I consider it a hostile act, I will impose very heavy customs duties or I will cease all trade with Europe,” he said. The Canadian leader is preparing to speak this Thursday to MEPs in the European Parliament.

An “associate member” status still unclear

Ursula von der Leyen also proposed that this North American country join the future “European Security Council”, which she hopes for. Within the Twenty-Seven, France welcomed the project to deepen the relationship between the European Union and Canada. “We aim to create ever closer ties with Canada,” declared the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, on the LCI news channel. Jean-Noël Barrot, however, added that this project will have to be “debated, dissected, analyzed” before France takes a definitive position.