Canada Seeks 'Unique Alliance' With E.U. Amid U.S. Trade War. Here's What It Could Look Like

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speak at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on June 16, 2026. —Thibault Camus—Getty Images Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is seeking a “unique alliance” with the European Union as he aims to strengthen international ties amid a deepening trade war with the U.S.

“What we are looking, and will begin discussions for, [is] a unique alliance with the European Union,” Carney told reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday.

“We share the same values, we have the same priorities, and we have very complementary strengths.” Canada’s European pivot has been months in the making, following growing tensions between Carney’s government and the Trump Administration.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs came into effect last week, matching the economic pressure imposed by the U.S. after negotiations collapsed last month.

Carney has encouraged Canadians to take back economic power at the kitchen table, and many have embraced a boycott of U.S. products .

Trump has also repeatedly threatened Canada’s sovereignty , speaking openly of his desire to annex the country and make it the “51st state.” The U.S. accounted for 72.5% of Canadian merchandise exports in 2025, according to the country's annual trade report , making it Canada’s largest trading partner.

But Carney is keen to build an international support network that isn’t reliant on the U.S.

Over the past 18 months since Carney entered office, Canada has signed agreements that cover trade, defense, more with countries such as Indonesia , Japan , and Ecuador .

At the E.U.-Canada summit in June 2025, Canada established a new Security and Defense Partnership with the bloc.

“Our partnership is grounded in the core values we share: democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and open, rules-based markets," read a joint statement marking the occasion.

In January, Carney notably met with China’s President Xi Jinping to forge what he referred to as a “ new strategic partnership ” to end Canada's economic reliance on the American market.

Carney agreed to cut his country’s 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products, including canola seeds, a major Canadian export.

Continuing with these efforts, Carney on Monday brought together executives and senior leaders from global investment firms to encourage them to invest in the country at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto.

He’s heading for a three-day trip to Europe on Tuesday, where he’ll meet with various European leaders including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.