Trump Threatens EU With Tariffs Over Plan to Give Canada Associate Membership

President Trump warned Wednesday that he could hit the European Union with new tariffs or cut off trade entirely if the bloc moves forward with a proposal to make Canada its first-ever associate member.

Trump’s Reaction to the EU Proposal

Speaking to reporters after landing in North Carolina, Trump called the idea laughable and criticized Canada as a poor trade partner. He said his response would depend on whether he views the move as a hostile act, warning that he would impose serious tariffs or halt trade with Europe on multiple fronts if that’s the case. His comments followed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement that the EU is open to making Canada its first associate member, a category that doesn’t currently exist under EU treaties and would need to be created and approved by member states.

A Shift in EU-Canada Relations

Von der Leyen made the announcement during her state of the EU address in Strasbourg, saying the bloc wants to elevate its relationship with Canada to the highest level possible. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended the address, has previously said Canada wants a unique security and economic partnership with Europe rather than full membership. The proposal marks a notable shift, given the EU’s lukewarm response earlier this year to a similar idea floated for Ukraine.

Canada has been working to reduce its reliance on the US following months of trade tensions, including a 50% US tariff on Canadian goods and planned bans on Canadian dairy, alcohol and auto imports. Von der Leyen’s outreach to Canada includes cooperation on manufacturing, defense integration, technology, energy, AI and Arctic policy. Any new US tariffs on the EU would also test the existing trade agreement between Washington and Brussels, which caps tariffs on most EU exports at 15%.