Carney explores EU 'associate member' status for Canada as U.S. ties fray

Prime Minister Mark Carney is reportedly exploring making Canada the European Union's first-ever "associate member," a status that does not currently exist, as the Canada-U.S. relationship deteriorates under President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal reports unnamed officials on both sides say the 27-member bloc is amenable to the concept. The proposed integration would allow Canadian goods, services, and workers in defence, energy, AI, and critical minerals to move "frictionlessly" within the EU's $21 trillion single market. Carney has told officials the result "will be the reorienting of an economy and a society that for half a century has been dominated by the U.S." Discussions have included visa-free movement for Canadians, joining the Erasmus+ study-abroad program, undersea cables, data centres, and gas pipelines across the Atlantic. Skepticism exists among European officials, noting 10 nations including France and Italy have yet to ratify the Canada-EU trade deal CETA after nearly a decade. Some question whether Canada is using the EU as leverage against Washington, while Conservative MPs have called the idea "asinine" and warned against sacrificing sovereignty. Carney will address the European Parliament this week and meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Sept. 20.