Canada seeks EU 'associate member' status as US ties sour, WSJ reports

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring closer ties with the European Union, including seeking an "associate member" status, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Sunday. This comes as Ottawa-Washington relations hit a historic low amid a trade war with the United States. The status does not currently exist, but the EU may be open to creating special arrangements, the report said, citing unnamed officials. Carney will address the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, where he is expected to outline his vision for Canada-EU ties. The two sides are discussing bolstering trade in energy, AI, defence, and critical minerals, plus joint projects like undersea cables and satellite networks. Securing such status could prove difficult due to strict EU rules, though German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed a similar model. Separately, Macron and Carney will visit Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon next week in a show of support amid tensions with US President Donald Trump.