US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt trade with the European Union after it proposed making Canada the bloc’s first associate member. Canadian leader Mark Carney’s EU counterpart, Ursula von der Leyen, made the proposal a day before Carney addressed the European Parliament. Canada and the European Union have been trying to build a new relationship, moving away from the aggressive stance of the United States under Trump’s leadership.
Asked by reporters about the proposal, Trump said: “I think it’s ridiculous.” He added: “If they do this, and if I think it’s in any way a hostile move, I will impose very harsh tariffs on Europe. Or I will halt trade with Europe on many products.” He further said: “If the intention is good, that’s fine. But if the intention is bad, I will impose very harsh tariffs on Europe. That’s a possibility.”
Von der Leyen offered Carney closer cooperation with the EU in the technology, defence and energy sectors. Carney became the first head of government from outside Europe to take part in the European Union’s annual “State of the European Union” address.