PM Carney Hosts Business Roundtable with European Union Leaders - Headline Politics

CPAC reports that Carney delivered brief remarks before a roundtable discussion with business leaders in Montreal on the sidelines of the Canada–European Union Summit[2], and that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke.CBC News reports that Carney had, until Thursday, largely stayed away from using the associate member title[1]. The broadcaster says sources told CBC News that Germany in particular opposes the "associate member" term, calling it a red line.[1]According to the Associated Press, von der Leyen said at the roundtable that the proposed alliance was "a wider concept"[3] and that "Other like-minded trusted partners are welcome."[3]The AP reports that von der Leyen said "When trade becomes a tool of economic pressure, it is families that pay the price"[4].The AP also reports that Trump has suggested Canada's proposed EU arrangement could be a "hostile act" and threatened tariffs on Europe[3]. According to the AP, the White House said Thursday that U.S. trade and commerce officials had held discussions with their Canadian counterparts in recent days.[3]Anand Sundar of the European Council on Foreign Relations told the AP that "member states have rejected the associate membership framing"[3], which he called "very embarrassing for von der Leyen"[3].The AP reports that von der Leyen said Canada and the EU would finalize an agreement Friday giving Canadian companies, startups and researchers access to Europe's network of 12 supercomputers[3].