US President Donald Trump has derided the European Union's proposal to accept Canada as an associate member as "laughable" and threatened to impose additional tariffs in response. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Reuters.
According to Trump, the EU's initiative is unacceptable, and he is ready to take retaliatory measures against any actions that harm US trade interests. He criticized the EU's attempt to expand relations with Canada, noting that such a step could hinder bilateral trade agreements.
Previously, the Trump administration repeatedly imposed tariffs on the EU, fueling a trade war. The new threats could further exacerbate relations between Washington and Brussels.
Canada has not yet officially applied for associate membership in the EU, but the EU's proposal in this direction has caused US discontent. Trump had previously called Canada the "51st state" of the US, reflecting tensions between the two countries.
According to experts, the EU's rapprochement with Canada could undermine US influence in North America. However, concrete steps are still unknown.
Trump's latest statement could cause new tensions in the international trade arena. EU representatives have not yet given an official response to this statement.