Canada embraces EU 'associate membership' as Trump calls the historic tie-up 'laughable'

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Donald Trump and Mark Carney. Canada has also applied to join the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force military coalition, marking a further shift in its defence alignment away from the United States.

Mark Carney received a standing ovation from MEPs after embracing Ursula von der Leyen's unprecedented proposal to offer Canada associate membership of the EU.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, announcing that Canada was eager to become the EU's first-ever associate member and calling for "deep cooperation" to secure shared sovereignty. Trump threatened "very serious tariffs" on Europe should the arrangement proceed, and dismissed the whole idea as laughable. Carney responded that no one had the right to dictate which international agreements Canadians could enter into.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen extended the invitation for Canada to take up the unprecedented associate member status, saying she wanted to bring the relationship "to the highest level possible."

The Herald Scotland described the development as a "wake-up call for Westminster," urging Andy Burnham to call von der Leyen and explore whether a comparable deal could be secured for the UK.

The GuardianCanada’s Carney embraces EU associate membership proposal - The Guardian Council on Foreign RelationsMembership Without Membership? What Europe Can Really Offer Canada - Council on Foreign Relations WSJWhat Would Canada’s Associate Membership of the EU Look Like? - WSJ ReutersCanada, EU face limits to relationship after symbolic EU overture to Carney APCarney embraces EU associate membership proposal as Trump pushes Canada closer to Europe The Herald;UK must forge closer links with the EU, just like Canada'

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