‘Stronger together’: Carney welcomes EU invite for Canada to become first-ever associate member

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday welcomed the European Union's ambition to make Ottawa an associate member of the 27-nation bloc, saying a closer alliance between the two can help to shore up strategic autonomy on a range of capabilities. His comments come shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump described the prospect of Canada becoming the first associate member of the EU as "laughable" and threatened the bloc with tariffs if he deemed the move to be a "hostile act." Speaking to reporters in North Carolina, Trump called Canada a "terrible trade partner" and said the U.S. could even "stop trading with Europe on many things" if the EU moves ahead with its plan. "If it's a good intention, that's fine.