The Graham bill already went to the desk. This is a threat and a welcome, not a treaty.
Reuters, Brussels / Strasbourg, Sept. 17, 5:57 a.m. UTC: President Donald Trump threatened action against the EU if it moved on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to make Canada the bloc’s first associate member. En route to an event in North Carolina, he called the idea “laughable.” “If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things.” “If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe.” A threat is not a tariff schedule. We will not invent a rate.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Thursday, European Parliament, Strasbourg, Reuters: “Europe and Canada are each strong. Europe and Canada are even stronger together.” He said he was not proposing a third bloc to become a great-power rival. “We welcome this ambition.” He named closer work on critical minerals, defence industry, AI, energy, space, and payments. A welcome is not a vote of the 27.
European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill: the proposed strengthening “is not against anyone else, but for our common strength.” Reuters: the proposal is yet to be fleshed out and needs EU member-state approval. Fox Business / Independent: historically the EU has no such associate-member status; Mark Carney is seeking a “unique alliance,” not full membership. SAN: Canada still sends about 70% of exports to the United States. A Montreal EU-Canada summit is next month. A calendar is not a deal.
Evening already had 262–159. 220–204 already ran. Level 3 already ran. This page does not reprint them.
What this means for you
If you needed a new EU tariff this morning, you do not have one. If you needed Canada seated as an associate member, member states have not voted. Not investment advice.
Bottom line: Laughable. Serious tariffs threatened. Carney: stronger together. Not a levy. Not membership.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
