Donald Trump threatened to impose heavy tariffs and even restrict trade with the European Union, in response to Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to make Canada the EU’s first “associated member.”
The U.S. president called the prospect “ridiculous,” while hinting that Washington’s response would depend on the intentions he attributed to the Europeans.
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“If it’s a hostile act, I’ll impose very heavy tariffs.”
“I find it ridiculous,” Trump said when asked by reporters about the proposal presented by the President of the European Commission.
“If they do that, and if I consider it a hostile act, I will impose very heavy tariffs or end trade with Europe in many sectors,” she warned.
“If they have good intentions, great. If they have bad intentions, we will impose very heavy tariffs on Europe,” he added.
Trump also attacked Canada, calling it a “horrible trading partner” of the U.S.
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Von der Leyen’s proposal
Ursula von der Leyen proposed, during her State of the Union address, to pave the way for Canada to become the first “associated member” of the EU, within the framework of much closer cooperation on trade, defense, technology, energy, critical raw materials, and the Arctic.
This specific status is not currently provided for in the European treaties as a form of accession, and the institutional and legal details of how it could be implemented have not yet been presented.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, amid the trade dispute with the U.S., has stated that Ottawa seeks to build a “unique alliance” with the European Union, without seeking full membership in the bloc.
Source: Proto Thema
