Canada explores EU associate membership to cut US reliance

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring an "associate member" status with the European Union, according to a Wall Street Journal report, as Ottawa seeks to reduce its dependence on the US amid an escalating trade dispute with Washington. The EU is reportedly open to creating a new form of associate membership for Canada, with discussions covering freer movement for goods, services, and workers in strategic sectors like energy, artificial intelligence, defence, and critical minerals. Cooperation on underwater cables, data centres, and satellite networks is also being discussed, alongside infrastructure for shipping Canadian energy to Europe. Carney has held talks with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, about allowing Canadians to live and work in the EU without visas. However, the efforts may face obstacles, as opposition to the existing Canada-EU trade agreement, signed over a decade ago, has left it unratified by several member states.