Trump
threatens to impose ‘serious tariffs’ on Europe if Canada joins EU as associate
member
The
president's threat comes as Canada seeks closer ties with Europe amid its
deteriorating relationship with Washington.
By Jalen
Beckford
09/17/2026
02:36 AM GMT+2
President
Donald Trump pulled out one of his favorite words as he threatened retaliation
if the European Union were to admit Canada as an associate member.
Trump
told reporters Wednesday that he might respond with “serious tariffs” if Canada
were to become integrated with the 27-member EU to a degree that he perceived
would be hostile to the U.S. amid a trade war with its northern neighbor.
He called
it “laughable” that Canada would become an associate member, as European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed earlier in the day during
her State of the Union speech.
“Canada’s
been a terrible trade partner,” Trump told reporters at the airport in
Charlotte, North Carolina, when asked about the proposal. “If I think it’s at
all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe
on many things,” he added.
Trump
left open the possibility that he would accept the arrangement if he believed
it was made with “a good intention,” but warned that the U.S. could otherwise
impose “very heavy tariffs on Europe.”
Von der
Leyen first floated the idea of making Canada the first associate member of the
EU with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in attendance.
“I would
like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate
member of the EU,” von der Leyen said. She also announced a broader “Alliance
for the Future” built on the already existing EU-Canada trade deal.
The
proposal caught European capitals off guard, and Canadian leaders appear to be
distancing themselves from the idea. It also remains unclear what associate
membership would entail, considering no such status currently exists under EU
law.
Canada’s
incoming ambassador to the EU, Jonathan Wilkinson, quickly downplayed the
prospect. “We’re not there,” he told reporters in Strasbourg when asked about
it. “What we’re focused on is actually driving results.”
Trump’s
Wednesday comments come as Canada seeks to reduce its economic dependence on
the U.S. amid the escalating trade war between the two countries. Carney has
called for a “unique alliance” with the EU but has stopped short of fully
endorsing an associate membership.
Carney is
set to address the European Parliament on Thursday.
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