Trump threatens trade with Europe if it makes Canada an associate member of the EU

President Donald Trump called the EU's proposal to make Canada an associate member "laughable" and threatened tariffs on Europe.

Artur Widak/Anadolu/Getty Images President Donald Trump is threatening tariffs on the EU if it makes Canada its first associate member.

Europe and Canada want ties that go beyond trade, covering tech, energy, security, and the Arctic.

Canada is also applying to join a British-led military coalition as it strengthens European ties.

President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to retaliate against Europe if the European Union follows through on a proposal to make Canada its first associate member.

The plan, floated earlier in the day by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would deepen the EU's ties with Canada beyond their existing trade agreement.

Trump said he could respond with heavy tariffs or curb trade with Europe if he viewed the move as hostile, extending his trade fight with Canada to one of America's largest economic partners.

"If they do that, if I think it's at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things," Trump told reporters after landing in North Carolina on Wednesday.

Trump called the prospect "laughable" and described Canada as a "terrible trade partner." On Wednesday, Trump also issued a presidential memorandum directing federal agencies to identify Canadian-origin goods that could be removed from the federal procurement system, citing what his administration described as barriers facing US companies seeking Canadian government contracts.

At a rally on the same day, Trump said the US was "carrying the European nations with a $200 billion deficit," referring to the US goods deficit with the EU.

"All we have to do is say, you know what? We're not trading with you anymore.

We don't need anything they have.

We have cars, we have lumber, we have food, we have everything," Trump said.

Von der Leyen's proposed arrangement remains undefined: EU treaties do not currently provide for such a status, and officials have yet to spell out what rights or obligations it would carry.