Carney to address European Parliament amid US-Canada trade war

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will address the European Parliament on September 17, 2026, in a high-profile visit that underscores Canada's strategic pivot toward Europe amid an escalating trade war with the United States. The announcement, made by the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday, August 26, confirms Carney will also attend the European Union's annual State of the Union address delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on September 16. The visit to Strasbourg, France, comes just days after trade negotiations between Ottawa and Washington collapsed, leading to a sharp increase in tariffs and retaliatory measures.

The trip is framed as a significant step in deepening economic and political ties between Canada and the EU. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola welcomed the visit, stating it would be "an opportunity to deepen EU-Canada ties and strengthen our bond." The invitation is considered more politically charged than in previous years, when the Parliament typically hosted civil society figures. The timing aligns with Carney's stated goal of seeking an "ever-closer partnership" with the EU as the transatlantic trade conflict intensifies.