Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to address the European Parliament next month, a move that underscores Canada's push to deepen ties with Europe as its trade relationship with the United States deteriorates.
According to reports, Carney will address the European Parliament on September 17 and will attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech a day earlier. The State of the Union address, which sets out the EU’s policy priorities and political direction, is scheduled for September 16. Carney will attend as a guest of honour.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a social media post that Carney's visit is "an opportunity to deepen EU-Canada ties and strengthen our bond." Carney's office confirmed the visit in a statement, noting the prime minister will also attend the EU's annual State of the Union address.
The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in the trade dispute between Canada and the US. On Saturday, President Donald Trump imposed new 50% tariffs on about US$20 billion (€17 billion) worth of Canadian goods, and Ottawa responded with counter-tariffs on a similar amount of US products, including steel and dairy. These tit-for-tat tariffs are set to take effect on September 8.
Trade talks between Canada and the US collapsed last week, with Ottawa accusing Washington of interfering in its sovereignty by demanding concessions on the French language and limiting Canada's ability to strike separate trade deals. The Trump administration, for its part, argues that Canada benefits from US protection, has underspent on defence, and that Carney is using "tough guy" tactics for political gain.
In an interview on the Glenn Beck Programme, Trump said of the trade relationship: "I had a deal, that was a pretty good deal, you know, quite good," adding, "It's time to teach Canada you can't do this anymore." He also said on Tuesday that he is considering renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America," following his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
The visit to Brussels reflects a broader strategic shift by Canada. Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has made at least 12 trips to Europe since taking office in March 2025. He has set a goal of doubling Canada's non-US exports over the next decade and has argued that middle powers should cooperate rather than compete for favour with larger powers. Canada also entered the EU's Security Action for Europe initiative this year as its first non-European country.
Carney's invitation to the European Parliament is seen as notably more political than in previous years, when Brussels opted for civil society figures and focused on Ukraine. The timing follows Carney's pledge to pursue an ever-closer partnership with the EU as the US-Canada trade war intensifies.