Carney directs government to explore deeper EU ties without formal membership

High approval ratings but potential backlash loom; 'unclear if both sides are ready'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney [Reuters]
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney [Reuters]

Canada, whose relationship with the United States has soured sharply over tariffs since Donald Trump took office, has begun exploring ways to break free from decades of American influence and forge ties with the EU approaching those of a full member.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is leading the push, has gone beyond a symbolic declaration that he will no longer tolerate Trump's public humiliations, directing his government to identify concrete ways to dramatically deepen Canada's relationship with the EU without formally joining the bloc, sources said.

The Wall Street Journal said Saturday that Carney's moves reflect Canada "accelerating its pivot toward Europe to ease the pain of its divorce from the United States," adding that European leaders have begun half-jokingly calling Canada the EU's "newest member."

Shortly after taking office, Carney began studying the models of Britain, Norway and Switzerland — countries that are not EU members but maintain close ties with the bloc through various agreements.

Over the past several months, Carney has held public meetings with the leaders of France, Italy and Germany, as well as nearly every leader and royal of Europe's smaller nations, sources said. Deepening Canada-EU ties was among the key topics on the agenda throughout those engagements.

Carney is said to have proposed to European leaders the use of a new designation formally describing Canada as an EU "associate member." Officials on both sides said the EU — which is typically cautious about applying membership rules flexibly — has responded positively to the idea.

After months of effort, European and Canadian officials have reached the stage of exploring ways for Canada to gain informal access to European markets in strategic supply chain sectors including energy, AI, batteries, critical minerals needed for semiconductors, and defense, the Wall Street Journal said.

A senior Canadian official said the closer alignment with the EU should come naturally, noting that "Canadians talk like Americans and dress like Americans, but socially they are much more European."

Carney's vision could face obstacles, however. While he has maintained high approval ratings since the deterioration of Canada-US relations, a backlash could erode his standing if Canadians begin to feel the tangible effects of being reshaped around EU systems.

Most countries that trade freely with the EU contribute to its budget, accept EU workers and comply with EU regulations — conditions that could provoke resistance in Quebec and Alberta, where separatist movements remain active.

A US official said it remains "unclear whether Canada and the EU are ready to absorb each other's goods" as the United States pulls back from its role as the world's consumer of last resort.

Skepticism also exists within the EU itself. Officials said EU administrators have pressed their Canadian counterparts to determine whether Canada is simply using the EU as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States.

Despite those concerns, Carney is set to lay out his vision for deeper Canada-EU integration in a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Building on that, the two sides are expected to announce the launch of several working groups at an upcoming bilateral summit, the Wall Street Journal said.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com