Canada looks to deepen EU ties as US trade tensions mount

OTTAWA — Canada is accelerating efforts to deepen its economic and strategic ties with Europe as trade tensions with the United States reach their highest level in decades, according to a Wall Street Journal report Sunday.Prime Minister Mark Carney has held talks with European leaders, including those in France, Germany and Italy, on ways to bring Canada closer to the European Union without pursuing full membership, the report said.Canadian officials are examining a possible “associate membership” arrangement that could provide closer access to the EU’s $21 trillion single market, particularly in strategic sectors including energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and defense.US President Donald Trump’s efforts to gain control of Greenland and the US war with Iran have strengthened the case among some European leaders for closer ties with Canada, according to the report.Carney has expanded his outreach to leaders traditionally closer to Trump, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, while maintaining frequent contacts with French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.By the summer, Canadian and European officials had stepped up discussio