Trump says Canada–EU associate status could be a ‘hostile act,’ threatens heavy tariffs on Europe

President Donald Trump said the EU proposal to make Canada its first associate member could be viewed as hostile if intended to harm U.S. interests, warning of very high tariffs on Europe. Canada has not received that status, and no new tariffs have been imposed in response.

Why it matters

Closer Canada–EU ties are becoming a new factor in U.S.–Canada trade tensions and transatlantic relations; any future retaliation could affect trade and supply chains across North America and Europe.

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More important stories

United States · Canada trade

2026.09.17 · 02:58 UTC

Trump orders steps to restrict Canadian goods from U.S. federal civilian procurement

A September 16 presidential memorandum directs U.S. agencies to identify Canadian-origin items and pursue legally permitted steps to remove them from federal civilian procurement. It does not immediately ban every Canadian product from government purchasing.

If broad categories are ultimately excluded, Canadian manufacturers and suppliers selling to the U.S. government could be directly affected and Ottawa could consider additional trade responses.

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