Canada and the EU launch an 'Alliance for the Future' as Carney eyes associate membership by June despite Trump's tariff threats

Canada and the EU formally unveiled the Alliance for the Future at the close of a two-day Montreal summit, with Carney declaring the partnership would deliver "sovereignty, greater resilience, an ability to withstand shocks together" against economic and geopolitical turbulence.

Canada agreed to contribute to a €90bn EU support loan for Ukraine as part of the summit's closing commitments.

Carney expects to conclude associate membership negotiations in June 2026, though the joint declaration used the softer phrase "ever-closer association" — dropping the term after resistance from some EU governments.