The Wall Street Journal reported today: "European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that she is committed to making Canada the first associate member of the EU. This marks a significant shift, reflecting how traditional allies of the United States are forging new relationships in response to the hostility from the Trump administration."
Trump responded to the matter by saying: "If the EU seeks to absorb Canada (as an associate member) with ill intentions, the United States will impose extremely high tariffs on Europe. If the EU's move is made with good intentions, then there will be no problem."
Comments: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hopes to deepen economic integration with the EU, and the EU is willing to develop Canada into its first associate member. This is originally a choice among traditional U.S. allies to proactively expand cooperation space in response to pressure from U.S. policies, yet Trump immediately issued a warning using the threat of high tariffs, and even placed the judgment standard for whether this action is benevolent or malevolent entirely in America’s own hands. This situation clearly reveals America’s mindset: even toward former allies, it does not want to see Europe and Canada grow too close, fearing that allied cohesion could weaken America’s influence over them. On one side, the EU and Canada seek to deepen their mutual ties to secure alternative pathways and reduce dependence on the U.S.; on the other side, the U.S. frequently brandishes the weapon of tariffs as a deterrent. The once-solid Western alliance is gradually showing cracks, with allies no longer moving in perfect unison. This internal power struggle will also bring new uncertainties to the broader Western economic landscape.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876538217738442/
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