US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged G20 officials meeting in Atlanta to work together to confront threats to the economic order. The US scrapped the traditional group photo after several European officials objected to being pictured with Russia’s Sergei Lavrov.
Published On 30 Oct 202630 Oct 2026
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MONTREAL — Prime Minister Mark Carney called Canada “the most European of non-European countries” early in President Trump’s trade war. Now, he’s hosting European leaders to pursue an unprecedented alliance, but the proposed European Union “associate member” designation faces resistance even as the EU’s top official champions it.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are in Montreal for a two-day summit aimed at deepening trade, defense and economic ties as Canada and Europe seek to reduce their dependence on Washington in a changing world order.
Speaking in Montreal on Thursday, Von der Leyen warned that economic relationships once considered sources of stability were increasingly being used as instruments of pressure. Without naming Trump, she described the consequences for ordinary families and warned that national sovereignty was under threat.
“When trade becomes a tool of economic pressure, it is families that pay the price, from the supermarket shelf to the cost of a new car,” Von der Leyen said. “We are seeing in real time our sovereignty being attacked.”
She warned that dependence on a single supplier for energy, semiconductors or critical minerals could be exploited and said countries faced a choice between acting alone or working with trusted partners to protect their economic security.
Trump has suggested Canada’s proposed EU arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe if he considered it unfriendly. Asked Wednesday about possible retaliation, a senior Canadian government official told reporters the closer relationship was not directed against the United States but reflected long-standing shared interests.
The summit puts Carney’s vision for a new global order to the test. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, he warned that the U.S.-led international order was breaking down and urged middle powers to unite against economic coercion.
The structure and even the name of the proposed partnership remain unsettled, with some EU member states questioning the “ associate member ” designation proposed last month by Von der Leyen.
Despite resistance from EU member states, Von der Leyen showed no sign of abandoning the idea.
“Canada cannot become a full-fledged member of the EU because of geography, but we both want to bring our relationship to the highest level possible,” she said. “This is why we are discussing the idea of Canada becoming the first associate member of the European Union.”
Von der Leyen described the proposed relationship as an “association without accession,” saying it could bring Canada closer to EU membership than any previous arrangement with a country outside the bloc. She said the arrangement would deepen cooperation on everything from artificial intelligence and energy to defense and trade.
Anand Sundar, a special adviser at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said France and Germany are among the countries unhappy with the designation and that it may not survive the summit.
“The fact that member states have rejected the associate membership framing is very embarrassing for Von der Leyen,” Sundar said.
Carney said Tuesday the summit would be followed by further negotiations over the next year.
“It doesn’t matter about specific names or nomenclature,” Carney said. “What matters is the difference that it will make to lives of Canadians.”
Carney said the partnership could create new opportunities for Canadian students, businesses and researchers while strengthening the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Carney has ruled out formally joining the EU, saying any enhanced partnership would require approval by Canada’s Parliament.
The summit is expected to launch an “Alliance for the Future,” a framework for closer cooperation on trade, defense, critical minerals, technology and research.
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 advanced supercomputers, strengthening cooperation on artificial intelligence.
She also announced plans to strengthen strategic supply chains and encourage joint investment in industries critical to economic security.
The partnership could expand opportunities for Canadian students and researchers through the EU’s Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programs and make it easier for professionals to work on both sides of the Atlantic.
European commissioners and Canadian Cabinet ministers will hold sector-specific meetings, beginning with a business forum Thursday before formal leaders’ talks Friday. Officials hope to develop the broader partnership for possible endorsement next year.
Canada is the only non-European country participating in the EU’s $167-billion SAFE defense procurement program, allowing Canadian companies to take part in joint European military purchases.
But deeper defense cooperation faces obstacles. Sundar said France is pushing for strict “Made in Europe” rules that could limit Canadian companies’ access to future EU defense spending, while Germany favors broader participation. He said negotiations over the EU’s next seven-year budget could prove more consequential for Canada than anything announced in Montreal.
The two sides already have a sweeping free trade agreement, known as CETA, that eliminated most tariffs. Most provisions have been in force since 2017, although some EU member states have yet to ratify it.
The United States accounted for 71.7% of Canada’s merchandise exports last year. Carney wants to double exports to other countries over the next decade.
Canada and the EU are seeking closer cooperation on critical minerals as both sides work to diversify supply chains. Von der Leyen said the value of EU imports of Canadian critical raw materials rose 62% last year to 3.3 billion euros, including lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite.
Tobias Gehrke, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the disagreement over terminology was unlikely to derail closer cooperation.
“There is no magic shortcut to rapidly reducing Europe’s and Canada’s reliance on the U.S. economy and military — not least since Washington might retaliate,” Gehrke said. “But the political window is now wide open to take a much bigger step than was previously conceivable.”
Gillies writes for the Associated Press.
Second Test, Gqeberha (day five of five)
South Africa 425-9 dec: Bavuma 179, Jansen 85; Boland 5-81
Australia 99 & 295: Head 121; Rabada 4-77, Mulder 3-64
South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs
South Africa broke Australia’s resistance in the final session to complete a famous victory in the second Test and set up a series decider in Cape Town.
Travis Head made 121 for Australia and Scott Boland survived 166 deliveries for 40 runs in an attempt to escape Gqeberha with a draw – the tourists’ hopes also boosted by the first session being wiped out by rain.
But the Proteas stuck to their task to take the six wickets needed to win by an innings and 31 runs as the light faded late on the last day.
Premier paceman Kagiso Rabada finished with 4-77 while Marco Jansen, whose 5-33 on day four put South Africa in the ascendancy, took the final wicket as Australia were dismissed for 295.
But all-rounder Wiaan Mulder also played a crucial hand, bowling with accuracy and finding movement off the pitch to dismiss Head, Boland and Australia captain Pat Cummins.
Some of South Africa’s great Test wins have come against Australia – notably in the last World Test Championship final two years ago and a Test on this ground in 2018 in the infamous Sandpaper series. This must surely rank highly among them.
They were heavily beaten in the first Test in Durban and when 40-4 and 110-6 in their first innings of this Test, there appeared only one winner in this series.
Instead, the contest has been turned on its head by Bavuma’s epic 179 and South Africa twice dismissing Australia, setting up a tantalising finale in Cape Town.
The third Test begins on Tuesday.
Andres Perea scored a goal and Matt Freese had two saves for New York City FC on Saturday night in a 1-1 tie with LAFC.
Perea slammed home a header off a corner kick played in by Nicolás Fernández to make it 1-1 in the 59th minute.
NYCFC (8-12-10) is winless, with three losses, in its last five games.
Leo Walta, acquired Aug. 31 by LAFC on loan, scored his first career MLS goal in his fourth appearance. The 23-year-old midfielder put away a straightaway free kick from 30 yards out to open the scoring in first-half stoppage time.
Hugo Lloris had three saves for LAFC (12-9-10).
Up next for LAFC: Hosts the Galaxy on Oct. 25.
Investec Champions Cup
Pau (17) 41
Tries: Marta 2, Zabala, Grandidier Nkanang, Brau-Boirie Cons: Desperes 5 Pens: Desperes 2
Leicester Tigers (10) 17
Tries: Chessum, Van der Flier Cons: Searle 2 Pen: Searle
Leicester Tigers began their Champions Cup campaign with a 41-17 defeat by French club Pau.
Portugal international Rodrigo Marta crossed for two of the home side’s five tries, with a late burst helping them earn a bonus point from their Pool One opener.
Despite falling behind to an early Pau penalty, Leicester did well in the early exchanges, their tactical kicking game keeping them camped in their opponents’ territory.
Billy Searle’s 50-22 put the Tigers in superb field position and they capitalised through captain Ollie Chessum, who was making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a foot injury.
Pau fought back well, however, showing their quality with three tries in a 20-minute spell either side of half-time.
They had already seen a Sacha Zegueur try ruled out for a knock-on before Marta, the leading try-scorer in this season’s Top 14 with six in five appearances, and prop Jon Zebala touched down late in the first half.
Centre Marta raced in again from 30 metres to extend Pau’s lead after the interval.
Archie van der Flier powered over in the corner to move Leicester back within seven points, but that would be the final time Leicester would be within range of a losing bonus point, as Pau scored 17 points without reply.
Fly-half Axel Desperes added a further penalty, Theo Attissogbe sent winger Aaron Grandidier Nkanang over unchallenged in the corner and Fabien Brau-Boirie intercepted a Leicester pass to complete the scoring.
Leicester’s remaining Pool One matches are against Clermont Auvergne, Glasgow Warriors and Leinster.