Canada urges UK to "team up" with Ottawa, EU

The UK should “team up” with a proposed economic alliance between Canada and the European Union, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has said, arguing that changing global conditions require closer cooperation among like-minded countries.

“This is all about the substance, to build an alliance of the future,” Champagne told the BBC. “The world has changed. America has changed. So we need to change.”

His comments came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed opening the door to associate EU membership for Canada, an unprecedented proposal for the bloc. The details of any such arrangement have yet to be formalized.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg followed the proposal. Champagne said the visit was aimed at helping build an “alliance of the future.” Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England, has previously advocated cooperation among “middle powers” on economic growth, resilience and security.

Champagne said Canada and the UK shared common values and a similar outlook on international affairs.

“We need to look at partnership in a different way and the great thing is that when you look at Canada - and I would say the United Kingdom - we share the same values. We are very aligned in our vision of the world. Why don't we team up?” he said.

“We are independent and sovereign, but we are stronger together.”

The proposed closer ties come as Canada remains engaged in a trade dispute with the United States. Champagne defended Ottawa’s decision to impose retaliatory tariffs after trade talks with Washington broke down, saying Canada had “stood up for our industries, our workers, our country.”

He described Canada’s response as “measured, targeted and strategic” and said Ottawa did not seek further escalation.

“We responded because at some stage you have to say 'enough is enough'. No one can infringe on our economic sovereignty... the world took notice,” Champagne said.

He added that Canada would “re-engage at the right time” with the US and support affected industries “as long as it takes and whatever it takes.”

Champagne said the dispute also represented a “golden opportunity” for Canada to diversify its economic relationships, providing the broader backdrop for discussions on closer ties with the EU and potentially the UK.

By Vafa Guliyeva