US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose heavy tariffs on the European Union if the bloc proceeds with plans to make Canada its first associate member.
Trump issued the warning on Wednesday after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed closer ties between Canada and the EU.
Speaking to reporters in North Carolina, Trump said he could regard the move as hostile to the United States.
“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 said.
He added that his response would depend on the intentions behind the proposed arrangement, saying that if the move was made with “bad intention”, Europe would face “very heavy tariffs”.
Trump also described Canada as a “terrible trade partner” and dismissed the prospect of Canada joining the EU as “laughable”.
Von der Leyen made the proposal on Wednesday during her annual State of the European Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
She said the EU wanted Canada to become its first associate member as part of efforts to deepen cooperation between the two sides.
The proposed arrangement would cover areas including manufacturing, technology, defence, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and Arctic cooperation.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was present during von der Leyen’s address, has welcomed closer ties with Europe but has previously said Canada is seeking a unique alliance rather than full EU membership.
The proposed associate membership does not currently exist under EU treaties and would require negotiations among the bloc’s 27 member states.
The development comes amid worsening trade relations between Washington and Ottawa, with Trump having imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly criticised Canada’s trade relationship with the United States.