Carney expresses support for Canada to become EU's first associate member, defying Trump opposition

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday said he welcomed a proposal from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to create a new category of "associated membership" to the European Union, which Canada would potentially join. 

Carney touted cooperation between Europe and Canada, arguing that closer ties to Europe would help ensure no country could control Canada's markets and impede upon its sovereignty, the Associated Press reported. 

Trump said on Thursday that he'd consider it a "hostile act" for Canada to become an associate member of the EU, adding that it would depend on the intention of the membership. If the intentions weren't good, Trump said, he'd impose heavy tariffs on Europe and possibly cut off trade with the continent in some areas. 

Carney pointed out that the category remains to be defined, and he outlined his vision for it, which would mean deeper Canada-Europe integration across trade, defense, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space and other sectors to make both sides less vulnerable to economic and geopolitical pressure.