The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is heading to Europe to strengthen trade relations with European allies amid increasing trade tensions with the United States. This visit comes as Canada seeks to diversify its economic partnerships and reduce its reliance on the American market.

Goals of the visit:

• Strengthening cooperation in advanced technology fields: Trudeau intends to discuss ways of collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence and clean technology with European leaders.

• Exploring new business opportunities: The visit aims to open new horizons for trade and investment between Canada and European countries.

Current context:

This visit comes at a time when trade relations between Canada and the United States are experiencing noticeable tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian imports, even hinting at the possibility of annexing Canada as a U.S. state. In response, Canada imposed a 25% tariff on U.S. goods worth CAD 155 billion.

Canadian-European relations:

Canada and the European Union enjoy strong trade relations, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into temporary force in 2017. A green alliance between Canada and the European Union was also established in 2023 to enhance cooperation in climate and energy policies.

Future challenges:

With trade tensions with the United States continuing, Canada seeks to diversify its trade partnerships and strengthen its relations with European allies to ensure the stability of its economy and reduce dependence on a single market.

This visit is expected to result in new agreements being signed and enhanced cooperation in various fields, supporting the Canadian economy and opening new horizons for international collaboration.