Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Canada's Bid to Join European Union as Associate Member

US President Donald Trump has warned the European Union that it could face 'very heavy tariffs' if he views its support for closer ties with Canada as a 'hostile act'.

The warning comes after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada an associate member of the EU, which would allow for closer cooperation without full membership.

Canada's economy has been closely tied to the US, but Ottawa seeks to reduce its dependence on Washington amid renewed trade tensions under Trump's policies.

Von der Leyen also proposed expanding the existing Canada-EU trade relationship into a broader strategic partnership, which would cover areas including technology, defence industries, and energy.