Washington: US President Donald Trump threatened to curtail trade with the European Union if it proceeds with a proposal to grant Canada the status of the bloc’s first “associate member.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Trump’s remarks followed the raising of this possibility by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on the eve of a scheduled address by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the European Parliament. Commenting on the plan revealed by von der Leyen, Trump told reporters, “It’s ridiculous.” He added, “If they go ahead, and if I see any hostile action involved, I will impose very strict tariffs or halt trade with Europe.”

The European Commission President had proposed that Canada become the EU’s first “associate member”-an initiative aimed at elevating relations between the two sides-in the presence of Carney, who received prolonged applause from European lawmakers. Addressing Carney, who had been invited to Strasbourg to attend her annual State of the Union address, she said, “We want to take our relationship with Canada to the highest possible level; therefore, I would like to work with you to explore the possibility of Canada becoming the EU’s first ‘associate member.'” She also proposed Canada’s inclusion in a “European Security Council” that she aims to establish in the future.

Carney, the first foreign head of government to attend the State of the Union address, is scheduled to speak before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday. Canada, currently engaged in a trade war with the United States under Trump, is seeking to find new partners. Meanwhile, Europe, whose relations with Washington are experiencing similar tensions, seeks to rally support for its strategy of balancing ties between the two superpowers, China and the United States.

“We view the world through the same lens: from artificial intelligence to climate change, and from the Arctic to geopolitics,” said von der Leyen, calling on Ottawa and Brussels to “build a shared future.”