Trump threatens EU with tariffs over membership offer to Canada | First Thing
This story was selected and curated by our editorial team in the US news category. Published on September 17, 2026 • Originally reported by Vivian Ho. OMEGAZEPRIME provides independent news coverage and analysis for our readers. Stay informed with the latest developments.
Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, is due to address the European parliament on Thursday. Plus, how the attention economy overwhelmed children’s TV
Good morning.
Donald Trump has threatened the EU with “serious tariffs” after the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, invited Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member”.
Why does the EU want closer ties with Canada? Von der Leyen told the European parliament that, as democracies faced a “fracture in the international rules-based system”, Brussels and Ottawa needed to pull closer together. “This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” she said.
How has the EU responded to Trump’s comments? France’s Europe minister, Benjamin Haddad, said on Thursday that Washington had no power to veto EU decisions. “It is not up to the United States, or anyone else, to choose the political and geopolitical direction of the Europeans,” Haddad told Public Sénat TV channel.
What’s next? Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has been addressing the European parliament on Thursday. Follow our live coverage here.
Did Warsh identify what is driving inflation? Warsh acknowledged changing geopolitics, but avoided calling out the US-Israel war with Iran by name.
How did Trump respond? Shortly after the announcement, Trump said in a Truth Social post that interest rates should be 1% or less and criticized the US trade deficit.
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