Addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said she wanted to bring the relationship “to the highest level possible” in this “openly hostile world”.
Canada has been getting closer to the EU as relations with Washington cooled under Trump. Trade talks collapsed in August 2026, and Trump responded with aggressive 25% to 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. He also threatened their sovereignty, with comments about absorbing Canada and making it “the 51st US state”.
