Trump Threatens EU Tariffs Over Canada Associate Membership Plan

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, Sept. 16, that he would impose tariffs or halt trade with Europe if the European Union’s plan to make Canada an associate member is harmful to U.S. interests, according to remarks made to reporters in Charlotte, North Carolina ^[1].

“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,” Trump said, according to an account of his comments. “If Europe does that with a bad intention – if it’s a good intention, that’s fine – if it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe” ^[2].

The warning came as Brussels moved to deepen ties with Canada and as Washington and Ottawa remained locked in an escalating tariff dispute that has already included retaliatory duties on both sides ^[3]. Trump also called the EU’s potential invitation to Canada “laughable” and described Canada as a “terrible trade partner,” according to the same remarks ^[2].

EU Proposal and Canadian Attendance

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen announced the associate membership proposal on Wednesday during her State of the EU address in Strasbourg, France, saying she wanted to work on “opening the door” for Canada to become the bloc’s first associate member ^[4].

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the speech as guest of honor, marking the first time a non-European national leader was invited to attend the traditional address, according to a report on the proposal ^[5]. Carney had previously spoken of seeking a “unique alliance” with the EU ^[4].

There is currently no such thing as an associate member under EU treaties, and the bloc has no associate members, according to reporting on the proposal’s legal and political limits ^[6][7]. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in an interview with Euronews on Thursday, Sept. 17 that Australia and New Zealand could follow Canada in becoming “associate members” – describing the proposed status as a third way between full EU membership and candidate status ^[8].

European Commission Response

EC spokesman Olof Gill said in a statement on Thursday that the proposed EU-Canada partnership is not against anyone else, according to an account of the statement. “As our President made clear yesterday, the proposed strengthening of our partnership with Canada is not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” Gill stated ^[9].

The response followed Trump’s tariff threat, according to the same statement ^[9]. The EC’s position, as described by Gill, framed the proposal as a mutual-strength measure rather than a measure aimed at Washington ^[9].

Carney, speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, said Canada and Europe were “stronger together” in the face of “geopolitical rupture” and called for closer cooperation on defense, critical minerals and energy security ^[9]. He also said, “Canada and Europe should secure our strategic autonomy through deep cooperation in the full range of strategic capabilities” ^[7].

U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute and Ottawa’s Pivot

The U.S. and Canada are currently embroiled in a trade war. After trade talks collapsed last month, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on more than $20 billion of goods imported from Canada, and Carney retaliated by announcing dollar-for-dollar tariffs on U.S.-made products, according to reports ^[10][11]. On Wednesday, Trump escalated the dispute by announcing that the U.S. government will not be allowed to purchase Canadian goods ^[12].

A Wall Street Journal article published on Sept. 12 said Carney is planning a major and risky pivot to Europe, seeking to join the EU and its $21 trillion single market in some capacity since becoming prime minister in 2025 ^[13]. Canada and the U.S. nearly clinched a trade deal last year before negotiations broke down, according to reporting on the dispute ^[13].

More than two-thirds of Canada’s merchandise exports flow to the United States. In the first half of 2026, Canada sent $214.8 billion in goods to the U.S., roughly 68% of its total merchandise exports, according to trade data ^[14]. Canada is the top customer for 26 U.S. states – including Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin – and is in the top three for 45 of the 50 American states, according to an analysis of the trade relationship ^[15].

Outlook and Stated Objectives

Carney has sought to distance Canada from the U.S. while expanding economic ties with Europe and China, and has discussed labor mobility, defense, energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, transatlantic subsea corridors, satellite networks and Arctic shipping routes, according to the report ^[16][14].

Carney said his plan calls for the reorienting of an economy and a society that for half a century has been dominated by the United States ^[16]. The process for joining the EU can take years, and there is no guarantee that associate membership will be established, according to reporting on the proposal ^[13][7].

References

1. The Epoch Times. “Trump Threatens Trade Measures on Europe if Canada’s Potential EU Associate Membership Done as a ‘Hostile Act’”. TheEpochTimes.com. September 17, 2026.
2. 100PercentFedUp. ““Laughable” – President Trump Responds To Canada Possibly Gaining EU Associate Membership”. 100PercentFedUp.com. September 17, 2026.
3. ZeroHedge. “Canada’s Counter-Tariffs Take Effect As Trump Targets Bombardier And Midterm Battlegrounds”. ZeroHedge.com. September 8, 2026.
4. BBC News. “EU chief opens door for Canada to become ‘associate member'”. BBC.com. September 16, 2026.
5. ZeroHedge. “EU Opens Door For Canada To Become Bloc’s First-Ever “Associate Member””. ZeroHedge.com. September 16, 2026.
6. BBC News. “What could EU associate member status mean for Canada?”. BBC.com. September 17, 2026.
7. BBC News. “Warm words on Canada’s EU ‘associate membership’ but no guarantees”. BBC.com. September 17, 2026.
8. The Epoch Times. “European Parliament President Says Australia, New Zealand Could Follow Canada Into EU ‘Associate Membership’”. TheEpochTimes.com. September 17, 2026.
9. BBC News. “Canada welcomes EU proposal to become ‘associate member'”. BBC.com. September 17, 2026.
10. RT. “Canada hits US with retaliatory tariffs”. RT.com. August 25, 2026.
11. RT. “Canada fires back at Trump’s 50% tariffs”. RT.com. August 22, 2026.
12. RT. “Trump slaps 50% tariffs on Canadian cars”. RT.com. August 24, 2026.
13. Just The News. “Defiant Carney brushes off Trump amid closer ties with EU”. JustTheNews.com. September 17, 2026.
14. ZeroHedge. “Visualizing Canada’s Biggest Export Partners”. ZeroHedge.com. September 2, 2026.
15. BBC News. “How Canada could hit back to hurt the US economy – and Trump”. BBC.com. August 25, 2026.
16. Just The News. “Carney expresses support for Canada to become EU’s first associate member, defying Trump opposition”. JustTheNews.com. September 17, 2026.

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