European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently proposed that Canada become the bloc’s first associate member. The proposal aims to strengthen economic ties. However, President Donald Trump had an immediate, sharp response. According to CNN, the President warned that he could impose heavy tariffs on the European Union if he views any new agreement with Canada as a “hostile act.”
The announcement was made during von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg, France. Reuters reported that the proposal sparked intense debate regarding the future of international partnerships. When asked about it, Trump noted, “If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility.” He further characterized the proposal as “laughable” while en route to an event in North Carolina.
