MONTREAL — Canada and the European Union launched an “Alliance for the Future” at the close of a two-day summit in Montreal, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying he hopes to finalise a deal making Canada the bloc’s first “associate member” by June.
Canadian cabinet ministers and European commissioners will meet in March, ahead of concluding negotiations at European Council meetings in June. The leaders agreed initiatives on digital trade, critical minerals and artificial intelligence, and Canada agreed to contribute to a €90bn EU support loan for Ukraine.
“Our societies have been shaken by new storms,” Carney said, citing the “erosion of democratic norms” and “the weaponization of trade.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “These headwinds won’t stop blowing. This change is permanent.”
US President Donald Trump’s trade war has accelerated efforts on both sides to reduce dependence on Washington, and Trump has threatened tariffs on Europe if he considers the arrangement unfriendly. Carney insisted the alliance was “about reinforcing sovereignty,” not retaliation, ABC News reported.
Sources: ABC News (Australia), The Guardian
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