‘Europe, Canada are stronger together’: Carney after Trump calls EU ‘associate member’ proposal ‘laughable’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. (AP Photo) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday backed closer ties between Canada and the European Union, saying the two sides could work together to protect their markets, democracies and sovereignty, hours after US President Donald Trump called the proposal “laughable” and threatened to impose tariffs on Europe.Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carney welcomed the EU’s ambition to make Canada its first “associate member”, although he did not himself use the term.“Europe and Canada are each strong. Europe and Canada are even stronger together,” Carney was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.Carney did not name Trump in his speech but appeared to refer to US trade measures, saying economic integration was being “weaponized” through tariffs and that supply chains and financial mechanisms could be used for coercion.Trump threatens tariffs on EuropeTrump on Wednesday criticised the proposal to deepen EU-Canada ties, calling the idea of Canada becoming an associate member of the bloc “laughable”. He also threatened to impose “very heavy tariffs” on Europe or stop trading with the bloc on some goods if he considered the...