Carney seeks closer Canada-EU partnership amid US trade tensions
The Canadian prime minister is pursuing deeper cooperation in trade, investment and security while ruling out EU membership.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting Strasbourg and Liverpool from 15 to 17 September to pursue closer ties with the European Union as trade tensions with the United States intensify.
Carney’s government says the visit will focus on trade, investment and security. He has described the proposed relationship as a “unique alliance”, while making clear that Canada is not seeking EU membership.
The precise scope and legal form of the proposed alliance have not been detailed. A senior Canadian official said the objective was to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty without surrendering Canadian rights to Brussels. Visa-free living and working arrangements for Canadians in Europe have been raised as a negotiating objective, rather than an agreed policy.
The push comes as Canada seeks to diversify its trade. The United States imports more than 70 per cent of Canadian goods, while Canada-EU trade was worth about €130 billion in 2025. A 2017 trade agreement removed most duties and eased investment between Canada and the EU.
Canada and the United States have imposed retaliatory tariffs, including a reported 50 per cent US tariff on $20 billion of Canadian goods. Canadian passport holders can currently visit the Schengen zone without a visa for up to 90 days, but longer stays require permission.
Al Jazeera Global News reported that opposition leader Pierre Poilievre criticised Carney as “out of touch”. Canada and the EU already hold annual summits and have a defence pact covering cooperation during international security emergencies and stabilisation missions.
