The EU rejected that "associate member" status for Canada, and Canadians realized that that status would have meant control from Belgium, more carbon taxes, etc.
So, Carney has come crawling back to Trump.
====
Mark Carney
@MarkJCarney
Good conversation with President
@realDonaldTrump
on the future of Canada-U.S. trade.
This builds on our recent constructive discussions on the outlines of a mutually beneficial trade deal that would create jobs for our workers, boost affordability for families, and fully respect Canada’s languages, culture, and sovereignty.
Our teams will now be working in the coming weeks to deliver that outcome.
European Union drops ‘associate member’ plan for Canada
Germany said to be behind change of policy after its similar offer for Ukraine was rejected
Germany has blocked a plan to grant Canada associate membership of the European Union.
Instead, the North American country is expected to be promised “ever-closer association” with the bloc at a summit later this week, according to a draft statement seen by The Telegraph.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, had originally pitched the idea of “associate membership” for Canada at her annual state of the union address.
The top Eurocrat’s offer came with few details, leaving the bloc’s member states puzzled about what it could entail.
In a series of behind-closed-doors meetings, the EU’s 27 capitals set to work expanding on Mrs von der Leyen’s proposal before an announcement at meetings in Montreal on Thursday and Friday.
Date: November 2nd, 2026 11:55 AM Author: Richard Ames
Trump is basically giving Carney "permission" to make Canada more sane from an energy policy perspective. The whole thing is a show to give Carney cover for increasing energy production, which will benefit both Canada and the US longer-term.
Meanwhile, the EU leaders are basically playing with dolls as Europe circles the drain.
Canada and the US basically reached a mutually beneficial deal but Carney did not want Trump to have a victory that could impact midterms. now he's circling back to accept the mount.