Carney Proposes Canada as EU 'Associate Member' to Diversify Trade

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring making Canada an "associate member" of the European Union, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Sunday. The EU is reportedly open to creating this new status for Canada, though no formal agreement has been reached. The proposal stems from Canada's escalating trade war with the United States, which has added urgency to diversifying its trading partners. Talks include allowing free movement of goods, services, and workers in strategic sectors like energy, AI, and critical minerals, plus joint infrastructure projects such as underwater cables and data centres. Carney has discussed visa-free travel for Canadians with EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who are set to meet later this month. However, the plan faces hurdles, as several EU countries still haven't ratified a more modest Canada-EU trade deal signed over a decade ago.