Carney to address EU allies amid pressure from Trump

Prime Minister Mark Carney will address the European Union next month in a push to deepen ties with the bloc as his trade dispute with the U.S. escalates.

Carney is set to speak at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Sept. 17, people familiar with the matter said. A day earlier he will attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the EU speech in the same chamber, the people added, on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private. Politico reported his plans to attend von der Leyen’s speech earlier on Wednesday.

The Canadian leader is looking to shore up support from the Europeans as his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump runs into trouble.

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Washington is discussing additional trade penalties against Canada after Carney unveiled dollar-for-dollar retaliation for new tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Saturday. Trade talks between Canada and the U.S. broke down last week.

Trump has also been threatening Europeans with higher tariffs, including after von der Leyen’s commission imposed an €890 million (US$1 billion) fine on Google last month. Trump sealed a trade agreement with the EU at a meeting in Scotland last year.

Spokespeople for the European Parliament and the Canadian mission in Brussels did not immediately reply to requests for comment. A European Commission spokesperson confirmed that Carney has been invited to attend von der Leyen’s speech.

The two sides are scheduled to hold a summit at the end of October that will focus on ways to strengthen their economic and trade relations, the people said.