Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will address the European Parliament on September 17, as Ottawa seeks stronger ties with Brussels amid a deepening trade and political conflict with the United States.
Carney will also attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech a day earlier. His invitation comes at a significant moment, as Canada looks to Europe for closer economic and political cooperation while relations with Washington grow increasingly strained, as reported by Euro News.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Carney’s visit would be an opportunity to “deepen EU-Canada ties and strengthen our bond.”
The visit follows the collapse of months-long trade negotiations between Canada and the US. Ottawa has accused the Trump administration of making demands that threaten Canadian sovereignty, including pressure over language policy and limits on Canada’s ability to pursue independent trade agreements.
Washington, meanwhile, says Canada benefits from US security protection while failing to contribute enough to defence. Trump has also criticised Carney’s negotiating approach.
On August 24, the US imposed duties of up to 50% on Canadian goods worth about $20 billion. Canada responded by promising matching counter-tariffs, marking a sharp escalation between two long-standing allies and neighbours.
Trump has further strained relations with remarks about Canada’s status and the possibility of renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America,” following his controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
For Carney, Europe offers more than a trading partner. As the global order faces growing uncertainty, the former central banker has called for cooperation among middle powers.
His Brussels visit could therefore mark a broader shift in Canada’s foreign policy from relying heavily on Washington to building stronger bridges across the Atlantic.
