US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the European Union, threatening to impose “very serious tariffs” or halt trade with Europe if the bloc proceeds with a proposal to grant Canada associate member status. Speaking to reporters while traveling to an event in North Carolina, Trump described the initiative led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as “laughable.”
“If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things,” Trump stated. He added that while the intention might be benign, any perceived hostility would result in heavy tariffs being placed on European goods.
The controversy stems from von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union address delivered on Wednesday, where she proposed making Canada the first associate member of the bloc. The proposal was made in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whom the audience gave a standing ovation. Von der Leyen framed the move as a necessary step to strengthen alliances among partners in what she characterized as an “openly hostile world.”
The geopolitical backdrop includes ongoing tensions for both the EU and Canada with the United States, as well as growing trade frictions with China and security concerns regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, Carney expressed a desire to forge a “unique alliance” with the EU, citing deteriorating relations between Ottawa and Washington since Trump’s return to the White House, which has already led to tariffs on billions of dollars in cross-border trade.
However, the proposal has faced skepticism within Europe. A EU diplomat noted that “nobody really knows what it means,” questioning whether the Commission president could deliver on such a novel arrangement. Historically, the EU has resisted creating flexible alliances without formal legal status.
In response to Trump’s threats, French Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad firmly rejected the notion that Washington holds any veto power over Brussels’ geopolitical decisions. Telling the Public Senat TV channel that it is not for the US or any other nation to dictate Europe’s political direction, Haddad emphasized France’s full entitlement to deepen its partnership with Canada.
Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to address the European Parliament on Thursday morning as the diplomatic situation unfolds.
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