EU Invites Canadian Prime Minister to State of the Union Amid US Trade Tensions
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend the EU's State of the Union in Strasbourg, highlighting close EU-Canada ties while US-Canada trade talks remain strained.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, extended an invitation to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to join the State of the Union ceremony slated for September 16 in Strasbourg, France, signaling a desire to strengthen EU-Canada relations. Von der Leyen later described Canada as "truly the most European of the non-European countries." Carney is also scheduled to address the European Parliament a day after von der Leyen's speech.
This diplomatic outreach occurs amid heightened tension between the United States and Canada following the collapse of negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement. Carney accused the United States of introducing unfair, uneconomic last-minute changes, while U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer blamed Canada for abandoning mutually agreed terms. The disputed deal sought to lower tariffs on Canadian aluminum, automobiles and steel, and on American dairy and lumber.
Why it matters
The invitation underscores EU-Canada cooperation while highlighting growing friction in North American trade relations.
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