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Mon, 21 Sep 2026

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 UK should 'team up' with Canada in new Europe alliance, Canadian minister tells BBC

It comes after European Commission President proposed "opening the door" for Canada to become an associate member of the EU.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne says that the UK should "team up" with a proposed economic alliance between Canada and Europe. He stated that the world has changed, including America, so they need to change too. Champagne commented on the collapsed Canada-US trade deal and said that Canada had stood up for its industries, workers, and country by imposing tariffs. The trade war was not something Canada chose but a response to infringement of economic sovereignty. He mentioned that Canada's strong fiscal position has helped it be resilient during the dispute with the US and that this has provided a "golden opportunity" to diversify. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the European Union in Strasbourg, where Champagne said he was building an alliance of the future. Carney previously discussed an alliance of middle powers working together on economic growth, resilience, and security. Champagne stated that Canada and the UK share values and are aligned in their vision for the world, making it a good partnership. He mentioned that they could be stronger together. The proposed economic alliance between Canada and Europe raises questions about the UK's post-Brexit positioning with Europe and its position with the US.