Canada welcomes EU proposal to become 'associate member'

Canada welcomes EU proposal to become'associate member' Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the European Union's ambition for Canada to become its first associate member, calling for closer cooperation on defence, critical minerals and energy security. Carney told the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday that Canada and Europe were stronger together in the face of geopolitical rupture. His comments came a day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed opening the door to Canada's associate membership, a status that does not currently exist. US President Donald Trump earlier called the idea laughable and threatened very serious tariffs on Europe if he considered it a hostile act. Canada and the US are locked in an escalating trade dispute, with each side imposing tit-for-tat tariffs after bilateral talks collapsed last month.