# Trump Threatens Tariffs on EU Over Canada Associate Member Plan
*President calls proposal laughable as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlines new strategic partnerships with Ottawa.*

- Medio: Civic Coast News (https://civiccoastnews.com)
- URL: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/trump-threatens-tariffs-on-eu-over-canada-associate-member-plan
- Sección: World
- Autor: Civic Coast News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-09-17T07:10:16.418Z
> Trump criticizes EU plan for Canadian partnership. Von der Leyen outlined tech and defense ties during her address in Brussels today.

## Las claves

- Donald Trump threatened tariffs on the EU over a proposal to make Canada an associate member
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made remarks at the European Parliament
- The comments occurred while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was present

President Donald Trump has threatened "serious tariffs" on the European Union in response to a proposal suggesting that Canada become an "associate member." The diplomatic friction emerged following remarks made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the Union address. Von der Leyen stated she wanted to open the door for Ottawa to join as the EU's first associate member, citing opportunities in technology, defense, and energy critical minerals.

### Remarks at the European Parliament

Von der Leyen delivered a wide-ranging speech yesterday where she emphasized that "this is not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength." Her comments did not explicitly mention the United States by name. However, the timing coincides with an ongoing trade dispute between Washington and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was present in the audience to watch the proceedings, as this newspaper reported in [Trump Threatens To Rename Lake Ontario Amid Escalating Trade War With Canada](/noticia/trump-threatens-to-rename-lake-ontario-amid-escalating-trade-war-with-canada).

"I think it's laughable," Trump said when asked about the Canada-EU proposal during a separate exchange regarding the diplomatic overtures made by European officials.

### Broader Strategic Goals

In addition to the associate member concept, von der Leyen expressed a desire to build a European Security Council. This proposed body would include the EU and its partners, such as the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Canada. The initiative aims to re-imagine partnerships in critical sectors where nations could "join forces." These areas specifically include technology development, defense capabilities, and access to energy critical minerals essential for modern infrastructure.

### Trade Tensions Continue

The proposal comes at a sensitive time for transatlantic relations. The United States is currently embroiled in trade disputes with Canada, making the European Union's outreach to Ottawa particularly notable to American leadership. Trump’s reaction highlights the administration's stance on international agreements that may be perceived as bypassing U.S. interests or creating alternative economic blocs without direct consultation.
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Fuente original: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/trump-threatens-tariffs-on-eu-over-canada-associate-member-plan