Canada Wants to Become a 'Quasi-Member' of the EU, Joining Forces to Counter China and the U.S.? Some Are Unwilling
Previously, The Wall Street Journal reported that Canada is seeking to strengthen its ties with the European Union and deepen cooperation without formally joining the bloc—effectively becoming a "quasi-member" of the EU.
However, this move toward closer alignment has not been warmly welcomed in Europe. On the 16th, The Financial Times cited multiple EU officials stating that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's "charm offensive" failed to convince member states wary of granting Ottawa preferential trade access. Moreover, not all countries support Trudeau's concept of "middle powers"—the idea that Western nations should unite to counterbalance China and the United States.
The report noted that during a recent meeting, one European diplomat expressed mild opposition to Trudeau’s remarks, emphasizing that the EU is "not a 'middle power,'" and that Canada, being much smaller in scale, should not expect any special treatment.
In summary, while the EU's overall stance toward Canada's aspiration to become a 'quasi-member' is neither particularly enthusiastic nor outright cold, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has voiced welcome. Nevertheless, many EU member states remain privately skeptical; countries like France and Italy have still not ratified the EU-Canada Free Trade Agreement.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876486291521536/
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