OTTAWA, September 13 — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to meet as talks about a stronger Canada–European Union relationship gather pace, with global trade tensions and shifting alliances pushing both sides toward deeper economic and strategic cooperation. The two leaders are expected to focus on advancing trade ties, cooperation on energy and critical minerals, and coordination on security and defense matters. Support for Ukraine is also on the agenda, though no new announcements have been confirmed.
Canada and the EU already share a comprehensive trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, signed in October 2016 and provisionally applied since September 21, 2017. CETA eliminates tariffs on most goods and opens access to services and public procurement markets.
Its provisional application covers roughly 98% of tariff lines, according to official EU figures. Full ratification remains pending. The agreement has not been ratified by all EU member states, and France has been among the countries where ratification has faced political hurdles.
That makes the Carney–Macron sit-down a working session as much as a diplomatic one. The economic stakes are already substantial.
Bilateral trade in goods between Canada and the EU was valued at approximately €70 billion (about US$76 billion) in 2023, based on Eurostat data. The EU is Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States. Canada’s exports to the EU include minerals, energy products, and aerospace parts, while the EU sends machinery, pharmaceuticals, and vehicles to Canada.
Diversifying away from a single partner
Canada has sought to diversify its trade relationships beyond the United States, and the EU has similarly looked to strengthen partnerships with like-minded countries. Both leaders have emphasized the importance of rules-based international trade and the need to address climate change and economic security. The meeting underscores a shared interest in reducing dependence on unreliable suppliers and strengthening supply chains for critical raw materials.
Both Canada and the EU signed a strategic partnership on raw materials in 2021. Macron has been a vocal advocate for European strategic autonomy and stronger ties with Canada.
The leaders are also expected to touch on artificial intelligence governance, given Canada’s role in the Global Partnership on AI and the EU’s AI Act. No joint initiatives have been confirmed. One timing note hangs over the agenda.
Canada prepares to assume the G7 presidency in 2025 and host the G7 summit, a platform both sides could use to press the wider cooperation agenda. What to watch next is whether the meeting produces movement on the ratification logjam in France and other holdout states, and whether energy, critical minerals, and defense coordination move from talking points into signed commitments.
