Canada and the EU Draw Closer as Ties with Washington Fray
ARTE.tv Documentary
ARTE Europe Weekly asks whether the warming relationship between Canada and the European Union, which the programme frames as a "long-distance" romance across some 6,000 km of Atlantic, is a lasting alliance or a short-lived affair. Its answer is mixed. The ties are real and growing in trade, politics and defence, but they are shaped by Ottawa's troubled relationship with the United States, and Washington is likely to push back.
A symbolic appearance in Strasbourg
The most recent sign of closeness was Prime Minister Mark Carney's attendance at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union address. The programme notes that he was the first foreign head of government to do so. Von der Leyen used the occasion to describe a shared future:
"Mark, your presence here is a symbol of the enduring friendship between our people. We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible, opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the European Union."
Carney replied the next day with his own vision of what a partnership could be:
"A Canada-EU alliance would create a beacon for other democracies. An alliance strong enough so that no one can dictate our choices. An alliance open enough that others can join. An alliance principled enough that our strength reinforces international law rather than seeks to replace it."
The programme presents this as the latest step in a series of moves toward each other. Last May, Carney received a red-carpet welcome at a summit in Yerevan, Armenia, which the narrator describes as a meeting of "the European family" in the broadest sense. A speaker there explained Canada's presence by saying that "Europe is not about geography, it's about values and principles."
Why Ottawa is looking east
According to the programme, Carney sees the rapprochement as more than a matter of shared values. He considers it necessary in a new world order set by the United States. At the Davos forum, the former banker criticised Donald Trump's policies without naming him:
"When we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness. We accept what's offered. We compete with each other to be the most accommodating. This is not sovereignty. It's the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination."
Since Trump returned to power, a trade war has divided the two neighbours. The programme describes Trump stepping up pressure with what it calls exorbitant tariffs on Canadian products such as cars and steel. In a clip, Trump says Canadian businesses are "pouring into the United States," that "we want to make our own cars," and that "Canada has been ripping us off for years. No longer." He has also floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state.
The stakes for Canada are high. Nearly three quarters of its exports of goods and services go to the US. Even so, the government retaliated, pledging to match Washington's new tariffs "dollar for dollar in order to protect Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses."
Teamwork with Europe in practice
Carney has been acting on this strategy for some time, the programme says. One example was the Finnish president's visit to Ottawa in mid-April, presented as a demonstration of Canada's teamwork with Europe. During that visit came the following assessment: the United States now appears "willing to break with its greatest advantage in geopolitics, which is its network of allies." That shift, the speaker argued, pushes countries with strong democracies, rule of law and integrated economies to bind themselves more closely together.
An alliance, not membership
What form the closer ties will take is still open. Carney has called Canada "the most European of non-European nations," but he has ruled out joining the EU:
"We're not looking to become a member of the European Union. What we are looking [for] … [is to] begin discussions for [a] unique alliance with the European Union. We're stronger together and this is at a time where the world's more dangerous and divided and friends need to stick together."
Public opinion, as reported, is split on membership but clearly supports cooperation. In a recent poll, 49% of Canadians backed full EU membership, while 80% wanted closer cooperation on foreign policy, defence and the economy.
Von der Leyen's offer of associate membership would take the EU into uncharted territory. An analyst interviewed in the programme called it "historically unprecedented." The closest comparison, the analyst said, is the association arrangements with EFTA states, including Iceland, which recently voted to stay in EFTA rather than join the EU. But the EU has never had such a relationship with a country as distant as Canada. The analyst described the aim as finding ways to create better access, better intelligence and better sharing of how both sides of the Atlantic see and assess the world.
Shared values and new areas of cooperation
The programme says the bloc of 27 and Canada have democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights in common. They are now exploring new links in AI, satellite technology, energy and raw materials. Together they could carry weight in global trade. For Europe, Canada adds to a market of almost 500 million consumers. For Canada, Europe is an attractive fallback if relations with the US worsen.
The programme also cautions that Europe could never fully replace the US market, because those economic ties go back much further.
Trade under CETA
Even so, much has already changed. The EU is Canada's second-largest trading partner, and trade between them hit a record €130.8 billion in 2025. The programme credits much of this growth to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in force since 2017. Since then, bilateral trade has risen by 81.2%.
The programme calls this a resounding success, especially since 10 EU member states, including France and Italy, have still not ratified the agreement. Carney has again urged them to do so soon. Europe mainly exports machinery and chemical products to Canada. Canada sends raw materials, including agricultural and food products, to Europe.
The relationship goes beyond trade. A strategic partnership agreement, provisionally applied since 2017 alongside CETA, opened the way for deeper cooperation on politics, foreign policy and security.
Defence and the Arctic
Defence has been a particular focus this year. In early 2026, Canada became the first country outside the EU to join the bloc's SAFE agreement, a framework for closer security and defence cooperation. It gives access to €150 billion in loans for joint defence spending on drones, missiles, air defence and artillery. Until now these loans were available only to EU member states. Canada made an initial contribution of €10 million.
The programme also stresses Canada's location. As Arctic sea ice melts faster, the region has drawn the attention of major powers because of its untapped natural resources and new shipping routes. That, the narrator suggests, partly explains why the relationship appeals to the EU. The European Parliament has even announced plans to open an office in Ottawa.
The third wheel: Washington
The programme calls the United States "an elephant in the room or maybe a third wheel." The analyst said that the US will remain the "big invisible figure" in Canada's talks with Europe. He pointed out that the Trump administration stepped in at the last minute of negotiations with Canada to try to stop it from deepening trade ties with the rest of the world. In his view, Washington will not take such moves "lying down," especially from the largest market for US goods, and will try to exert pressure and influence.
Trump has said any new EU agreement with Canada would be a hostile act, and has threatened even heavier tariffs. Carney, for his part, does not intend to cut ties with the US. He says he wants to keep it as Canada's most significant partner in many areas.
What comes next
Canada and the EU have a summit planned in Montreal at the end of October. The programme ends without a verdict, asking whether the pair can expect smooth sailing or rough seas ahead.
Europe is courting Canada, a possible bond far from home some 6,000 km away across the Atlantic. And in the midst of a challenging relationship with the US, Ottawa is looking for a shoulder to lean on.
President Trump has been throwing around tariffs and the idea of having Canada as the 51st state. But Prime Minister Mark Carney would rather go long distance with the EU. So, are Canada and the EU getting closer?
A blossoming romance? There's certainly some chemistry between Ottawa and Brussels. Their latest date was quite the statement. The Canadian PM became the first head of government, let alone in the EU, to attend the European Commission President's State of the Union address. Ursula von der Leyen went public about the relationship, talking about their shared future.
Mark, your presence here is a symbol of the enduring friendship between our people. We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible, opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the European Union.
And here's part of what the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, had to say the next day.
A Canada-EU alliance would create a beacon for other democracies. An alliance strong enough so that no one can dictate our choices. An alliance open enough that others can join. An alliance principled enough that our strength reinforces international law rather than seeks to replace it.
This is only the latest declaration in a long line of attempts to grow closer. A red carpet welcome for the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, at the Yerevan summit in Armenia. This was last May at the meeting of the European family, a family in the broadest sense.
Europe is not about geography, it's about values and principles, and that's why we are super glad to welcome Canada here today to discuss the issues and...
For the past year, there have been more visible signs of a rapprochement between the EU and Canada. For Mark Carney, it's not just about shared values, it's also necessary in the face of a new world order dictated by the United States. At the Davos Economic Forum, the former banker denounced Donald Trump's policies without naming him.
When we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness. We accept what's offered. We compete with each other to be the most accommodating. This is not sovereignty. It's the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination.
Since Donald Trump's return to power, a trade war has been tearing the two neighboring countries apart. Trump is stepping up his offensive in the negotiations. He's seeking to force Canada to back down by imposing exorbitant tariffs on certain Canadian products, such as cars or steel.
Canadian businesses are pouring into the United States. We want to make our own cars, etc. That's what's going to happen. Canada has been ripping us off for years. No longer.
The consequences are serious for the Canadian government as Canada is dependent on the US market. Nearly three quarters of its goods and services are exported to the US. But even with its back to the wall, the Canadian government has retaliated with its own counter-tariffs.
Canada will match Washington's new tariffs dollar for dollar in order to protect Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses.
Mark Carney has been putting his solution into practice for some time now in a number of areas, like with the Finnish president's visit to Ottawa in mid-April. This was a way of demonstrating to the world his nation's spirit of teamwork with Europe.
Now you see a United States that is willing to break with its greatest advantage in geopolitics, which is its network of allies. And that brings countries with strong democracies, strong rule of law, strong integrated economies. That begins to bind these partners closer together.
Forging stronger ties. The question remains as to what form these will take. While Mark Carney has described Canada as the most European of non-European nations, he's rejected the idea of membership.
We're not looking to become a member of the European Union. What we are looking and beginning to—will begin discussions for a unique alliance with the European Union. We're stronger together and this is at a time where the world's more dangerous and divided and friends need to stick together at these times.
No sign of them tying the knot quite yet, then. In a recent poll, just under half of Canadians, 49%, said they were in support of full EU membership. But a large majority, 80%, do want closer cooperation on foreign policy, defense, and economic ties.
Von der Leyen has officially put the idea of associate membership on the table. But for the EU, it would be a move into completely uncharted territory.
It's historically unprecedented, if you will. The only other place where you've effectively had association agreements is with EFTA, basically the free and Nordic states, including countries like Iceland who just voted to remain in the EFTA bound but not to join the European Union. But you've never had a relationship with a country as far away as Canada. The idea is to figure out ways to create better access, better intelligence, better sharing of fundamental ways in which both parts of the Atlantic see the world, estimate the world.
When it comes to Canada, the EU is seemingly keen on exploring all possible ties. It may be across the pond, but the bloc of 27 shares common values with maple leaf country, ticking boxes on democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights. And now, they're looking at forging new links in areas such as AI, satellite technology, energy, and raw materials.
In global trade, Canada and the EU together could have some clout. The pair could reinforce the markets of almost 500 million consumers for Europe. Yet, it is also an attractive draw for Canada should relations with the US go south. But, in reality, Europe could never quite replace the might of the US market because those economic ties go back much further, even if a lot has already changed.
The EU is Canada's second largest trading partner. Trade between the two sides is at an all-time high. In 2025, it stood at 130.8 billion euros. One of the driving forces behind this surge is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which entered into force in 2017. Since then, trade between Canada and the European Union has soared by 81.2%.
It represents a resounding economic success, all the more so given that 10 EU member states have yet to ratify the agreement, including France and Italy. The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has once again urged these countries to do so soon.
Machinery and chemical products make up a large share of the exports from Europe to Canada. Canada sends raw materials, including agricultural and food products, to Europe.
But, it doesn't all come down to trade and economic perks. A host of other agreements have already brought them closer together. Alongside CETA, a new strategic partnership agreement began to be provisionally applied in 2017, paving the way for deeper political, foreign policy, and security cooperation. And on that front, this year has brought about one particular focus point.
A signature and a new chapter in Europe's defense strategy. In early 2026, Canada became the first country outside the European Union to join the EU's SAFE agreement, bringing Ottawa into a new framework for closer cooperation on security and defense. The deal opens the door to loans for joint defense spending to the value of 150 billion euros, which the EU makes available to its member states and now also Canada. These countries now have access to large funds for drones, missiles, air defense and artillery. Canada's contributed an initial sum of 10 million euros.
When it comes to defense, Canada's location alone is of strategic importance. With the accelerated melting of Arctic sea ice, the region has become a focus for the world's major powers with both untapped natural resources and new shipping routes at stake. So, the appeal of this long-distance relationship for the EU is perhaps clear to see. The European Parliament has even set out plans to open an office in the Canadian capital. But, there's an elephant in the room or maybe a third wheel.
What will stand between the kind of conversations that the Canadians will have with the Europeans are still that big invisible figure in the room, which is the United States. A Trump administration that came in at the very last minute of negotiations with Canada to try to forbid Canada from deepening its trade relationships with the rest of the world means that the Trump administration is not going to, quote-unquote, take these sort of different moves, particularly with the largest market for the United States, quote-unquote, lying down. So, you can imagine that Washington will try to exert pressure and influence over this relationship.
Donald Trump has said that any new EU agreement with Canada would be a hostile act, threatening even heavier tariffs. Yet, Mark Carney's Canada has no intention of cutting ties with the US, which he says he wants to keep as its most significant partner in many areas.
And all the while, Canada and the EU have a summit planned to take place in Montreal at the end of October. So, smooth sailing from now on or rough seas ahead for the pair? That's a wrap for this edition of ARTE Europe Weekly. Until next time, salut, tschüss, ciao, adios, and bye for now.
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