Trump calls EU offer to Canada of associate membership ‘laughable’, while threatening tariffs

The US president call the move a ‘hostile act’, as Canada seeks to move closer to the EU and diversify its defence ties

Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with “serious tariffs” and a cut to trade after the bloc proposed to make Canada its first ever associate member, calling the idea “laughable”.

Suggesting the move was a “hostile act”, the US president told reporters he could put “very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe”. He added: “If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe.”