Trump says Canada becoming EU ‘associate member’ could be ‘hostile act’

The US president threatened heavy tariffs and said the US could cut some trade with Europe over the proposed status.

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press upon arrival at Charlotte Douglas international airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 16, 2026 [AFP]

United States President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with new tariffs over its proposal to make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member”, suggesting the move could be considered hostile to the US.

Speaking to reporters in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump said his response would depend on what European leaders were trying to achieve.

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“If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs,” Trump said. He also suggested the US could stop trading with Europe “on many things”.

Trump dismissed the prospect of Canada joining the EU as “laughable” and called the US’s northern neighbour a “terrible trade partner”.

His comments came just hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed opening the door for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member”, as Ottawa looks to build closer ties with Europe amid a deteriorating relationship with Washington.

What exactly “associate membership” would look like, however, remains unclear.

The status does not currently exist under EU treaties, and von der Leyen did not spell out what rights or obligations would come with it. Any proposal would also need the backing of EU member states.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office welcomed the prospect of a “far stronger, more ambitious alliance in the future”, but stopped short of endorsing associate membership specifically.

Carney has previously described what Canada is pursuing as a “unique alliance” with Europe rather than membership in the bloc.

Canada and the EU are already looking at closer cooperation on trade, technology, defence, energy, critical minerals and the Arctic, with more detailed talks expected at a Canada-EU summit in Montreal next month.

The push comes as Canada looks to reduce its economic dependence on the US amid an escalating trade dispute between the two neighbours.

美国总统威胁要征收高额关税，并表示如果欧洲被提议赋予特殊地位，美国可能会削减与欧洲的部分贸易。

2026年9月16日，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普抵达北卡罗来纳州夏洛特道格拉斯国际机场后向媒体发表讲话。[法新社]

美国总统唐纳德·特朗普威胁要对欧盟征收新的关税，以抗议欧盟提议让加拿大成为其第一个“联系成员国”，这表明此举可能被视为对美国的敌对行为。

周三，特朗普在北卡罗来纳州夏洛特市对记者表示，他的回应将取决于欧洲领导人试图实现的目标。

欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩提议给予加拿大“联系成员国”地位（共四项提议，此为第一项）。

列表 2/4：加拿大人如何应对特朗普贸易战的影响

（共4条）马克·卡尼在中美贸易战期间向全球投资者推介加拿大

列表 4/4 卡尼访问欧洲：在中美贸易战中，加拿大能否寻求欧盟的庇护？

特朗普说：“如果是出于好意，那没问题。如果是恶意，我们将征收高额关税。”他还暗示，美国可能会停止与欧洲“在许多方面”的贸易。

特朗普称加拿大加入欧盟的前景“可笑”，并称美国的北方邻国是“糟糕的贸易伙伴”。

就在他发表这番言论的几个小时前，欧盟委员会主席乌尔苏拉·冯德莱恩提议向加拿大敞开大门，使其成为欧盟第一个“准成员国”。渥太华希望在与华盛顿关系恶化之际，与欧洲建立更紧密的联系。

然而，“准会员资格”究竟会是什么样子，目前尚不清楚。

目前欧盟条约中并不存在这种地位，冯德莱恩也没有具体说明这种地位会带来哪些权利或义务。任何相关提案都需要欧盟成员国的支持。

加拿大总理马克·卡尼的办公室对“未来建立更强大、更有雄心的联盟”的前景表示欢迎，但并未明确表示支持加入该联盟。

卡尼此前曾将加拿大正在追求的与欧洲建立的“独特联盟”描述为加入欧盟。

加拿大和欧盟已经在考虑在贸易、技术、国防、能源、关键矿产和北极地区加强合作，预计下个月在蒙特利尔举行的加欧峰会上将进行更详细的会谈。

加拿大此举旨在减少其对美国的经济依赖，因为两国之间的贸易争端不断升级。