Carney Urges 10 EU Countries to Ratify Trade Deal with Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on 10 European Union countries that have not yet ratified the Canada-EU trade agreement to complete the process, as Ottawa seeks stronger ties with Europe after the failure of trade talks with the United States.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Carney urged Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovenia to ratify the agreement. According to him, strengthening ties with Europe is an important approach in an increasingly uncertain world.

Carney described the trade agreement as a “positive initiative,” stressing that it is in the interest of both parties and could make Canada and Europe “more sovereign, more resilient and more independent,” as well as more prosperous.

The agreement is currently in provisional application, while its ratification by the remaining EU countries would enable further deepening of economic relations. “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage them to do this,” Carney said.

The push to ratify the agreement is part of a broader Canadian rapprochement with Europe. Ottawa and European partners are also working on cooperation in critical minerals, education, digital infrastructure and Arctic security. A meeting in Montreal next month is expected to move these issues forward.

The Canada-EU agreement entered provisional application in 2017 but has still not been ratified by 10 of the EU’s 27 member states. Objections are mainly linked to concerns that increased agricultural imports from Canada could harm European farmers.