Canada Eyes Associate EU Membership Amid Trade Tensions with US
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering an associate membership in the European Union to expand economic and political cooperation without full accession. This move comes as Ottawa seeks to reduce its dependence on the US market amid escalating trade tensions between Canada and Washington.
The prime minister has been discussing options with European leaders for several months, instructing his special envoy to examine the most ambitious forms of cooperation that don't involve EU membership or single market access.
Canada's economy has long been tied to the US market, but Carney aims to redirect the country's public life and economy. The move has received preliminary support in the EU, despite its traditionally cautious approach to membership issues.