Mark Carney

OTTAWA — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that he is not seeking full EU membership but wants to forge much closer ties with the bloc, as he prepares to travel to Strasbourg amid an escalating trade war with the US. …Carney said. “What we are looking — and will begin discussions for — [is] a unique alliance with the European Union.” …Carney will address the European Parliament this week and attend Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech. His comments follow a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has floated making Canada an “associate member” of the EU — a novel status. Officials have discussed closer cooperation on critical minerals, trade, education and cultural exchanges, digital infrastructure and Arctic security. …Brussels, however, has yet to endorse Carney’s “associate member” idea, while parts of the existing EU-Canada trade agreement still await ratification in several member countries.

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