Canada will decide trade deals independently, Carney tells Trump

Investing.com -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that Canada will independently choose its international partners, responding to U.S. President Trump's criticism of proposed closer ties between Canada and the European Union.

"No one is going to dictate our culture or with whom we can strike agreements internationally," Carney told reporters at the European parliament in Strasbourg.

The comments come as the EU has proposed Canada become its first associate member, a move that has drawn objections from the Trump administration.

Carney said a stronger Canada with closer EU ties could serve as a more effective partner to the United States. He emphasized that the substance of any new relationship with the EU matters more than the terminology used to describe it.

The prime minister confirmed that the Canadian parliament will debate and vote on any future relationship with the EU. He described the initiative as positive rather than a reaction to external pressures.

"This is a positive initiative not a reaction to anything," Carney said. He added that "nobody will dictate who we strike agreements with."

The proposed associate membership would mark a new form of relationship between Canada and the European Union, building on existing trade agreements between the two parties.

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