Trump Threatens Tariffs on EU Over Proposed Canada 'Associate Membership'

US President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with "serious tariffs" and a possible halt to trade after the bloc proposed making Canada its first-ever associate member, a plan he dismissed as "laughable."

According to the Guardian, Trump said that if the EU proceeded with the proposal, Washington could respond with "very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe."

"If it's a good intention, that's fine," Trump said, according to the report. "If it's a bad intention, we'll put very heavy tariffs on Europe."

The proposed associate membership status would mark a significant shift in relations between Canada and the European Union, coming as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney works to move his country closer to Europe and diversify its defence ties.

The Guardian reported that Carney has been seeking to strengthen Canada's relationship with European partners, a move that comes amid broader questions about North American trade and security arrangements.

Details of the associate membership proposal, including its scope and the reasoning behind it, were not fully outlined in the available reporting. It remains unclear how the EU intends to respond to Trump's threat or whether the bloc will proceed with the plan.

The Guardian noted that this development is part of ongoing coverage of transatlantic relations, with the publication indicating additional updates would follow.