Posted on 09/16/2026 3:09:16 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The bloc’s offer of “associate member” status to Ottawa shows how U.S. allies are pulling closer together. But their plans face significant obstacles.
The European Union’s invitation Wednesday for Canada to become an “associate member” of the bloc shows just how intent these traditional United States allies are on pursuing a more stable future by binding closer together.
“We must urgently reimagine our partnerships,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, a beaming Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada sitting just to her side. But there are no guarantees they will get there.
While details of what this relationship might look like remain scant, Ms. von der Leyen noted some potential areas of cooperation, including partnerships in manufacturing, technology, defense, energy policy and economic security.
This would not be “a partnership against anyone else,” she insisted, “but for our common strength.”
European officials said that, in the lead-up to the speech on Wednesday, the bloc wanted to ensure that President Trump did not see this new partnership with Canada as an anti-American move.
Still, if it isn’t precisely against the United States, then it’s unmistakably about it.
“Behind this is a desire to hedge against what for both partners is an increasingly fraught relationship with the United States,” said Ian Lesser, a distinguished fellow of the German Marshall Fund, based in Brussels.
“But it’s not just that it’s fraught,” he added. “It’s the most important geoeconomic and geopolitical relationship for both Europe and for Canada.”
Symbolism matters
For Mr. Carney, the invitation is both timely and symbolically important. He has decided to stand up to Mr. Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Canada and regularly threatens its sovereignty.
Mr. Carney has been pushing for Canada to get greater access to the...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Invoke the Monroe Doctrine and announce this will not be allowed.
The EU rep from Greece was freaking out at Ms. von der Leyen about how she’s destroying Europe and a few more had a go at her as well with the Canada thing without telling them ,LOL
Go over to You Tube. Depending on which video you want to believe Canada is either killing us in trade or we’re killing them.
Trade is a win-win action.
The EU wants privileged access to Canada’s natural resources.
That's like someone telling you they're smart, or a nice person, etc.-- if you have to say it....
.
Canada exports roughly 73% here, US to Canada roughly 15%.
Not much of a win for us.
Waiting for the EU details.
Mark’s EU deal has to be compatible with the USMCA.
Does the USMCA accept rules and requirements of the EU framework??
If no, Mark will have to choose: USMCA or the EU.
Mark may very well be the one to exit the USMCA and let it fall to pieces
The EU already has a number of PIIGS.
It can’t afford another.
He has decided to stand up to Mr. Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Canada and regularly threatens its sovereignty.
That statement is pure BS . Anyone with any intelligence at all, only has to look at Canadas trade practices on America ,to realize Carney is lying his ass off.
Potash and nickel, the US is short on both.
One operating nickle mine in the US, and it will bottom out in the next three years...
US potash production is not much; 90% is from Canada.
IIRC, there has NEVER been a large and successful closed economy.
The NORKS, and they have the famous hotel of doom; how nice.
Tariffs are a tax.
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