Canada discusses closer ties with the EU amid tensions with the US — Anadolu Agency
Canada has stepped up efforts to deepen economic and strategic ties with Europe amid the sharpest trade tensions with the United States in a decade. Prime Minister Mark Carney held talks with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy on Canada’s possible rapprochement with the European Union without full membership, Anadolu Agency reports, citing The Wall Street Journal.
Possible format of cooperation
Canadian officials are considering an “associate membership” format that could give the country closer access to the EU’s $21 trillion single market. Energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and defense are named among the priority areas.
By summer, Canadian and European officials had intensified consultations through several diplomatic channels. During previous G7 meetings in France, they identified 11 areas of deeper cooperation intended to reduce dependence on US technology, defense equipment and trade.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Energy and defense
The talks may also cover easing the movement of workers, expanding research and university exchanges, as well as cooperation on data centers, subsea cables, cloud infrastructure and satellite networks.
Carney seeks to strengthen Canada’s energy ties with Europe, including by developing infrastructure that would enable Canadian natural gas to be supplied to European markets and reduce dependence on Russian energy resources. At the same time, Canada and Germany have concluded negotiations on Canada’s planned purchase of German submarines worth $25 billion.
According to the publication, two-thirds of Canadian exports go to the United States, complicating trade diversification. European governments have reacted cautiously to Ottawa’s proposals, as some of them fear that a significant change in Canada-EU relations could further complicate ties with Washington.
