'Very Serious Tariffs': Trump Warns EU Over Canada Associate Membership Move

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

60% : His comments followed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's announcement that the EU was opening the door for Canada to become the first associate member of the 27-member bloc.
60% : Von der Leyen's proposal includes cooperation between Canada and the EU in manufacturing, the integration of defence-industrial bases, technology, energy, artificial intelligence and the Arctic. Canada is already the only non-European country participating in the EU's SAFE instrument, which gives Canadian companies preferential access to defence procurement.
58% : During her annual state of the EU address in Strasbourg, France, von der Leyen said the bloc wanted to take its relationship with Canada "to the highest level possible.
57% : The agreement established a 15% tariff ceiling on most EU exports to the US.
55% : Canada is already the only non-European country participating in the EU's SAFE instrument, which gives Canadian companies preferential access to defence procurement.
50% : It also marks a shift in the EU's approach after the bloc had shown limited enthusiasm for Germany's proposal in May to grant associate membership to Ukraine.
49% : A new round of US tariffs targeting the EU could put the trade framework agreed between Washington and Brussels last year under pressure.
48% : Ottawa also has a free-trade agreement with the bloc that removes tariffs on around 99% of goods, although the agreement still requires ratification by 10 EU states.
46% : The EU treaties do not currently recognise associate membership as a formal category.
40% : US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that Washington could impose tariffs on the European Union or potentially halt trade with the bloc altogether if it moves ahead with a proposal to make Canada its first-ever "associate member.
40% : EU member states, some of which were reportedly caught off guard by the announcement, have also yet to respond to the threat.

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