Key facts
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham attended an Everton soccer match on Wednesday.
- Carney and Burnham held a bilateral meeting at the stadium amid Canada's efforts to build diplomatic relationships outside the US.
- The meeting occurred shortly after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed proposals for Canada to become an associate member of the EU.
- Canada has imposed duties of up to 50% on hundreds of US imports in retaliation for US tariffs.
- US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs or stop trading with Europe if Canada becomes an EU associate member.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his UK counterpart Andy Burnham attended an Everton soccer game on Wednesday, using the event as a backdrop for diplomatic discussions amidst Canada's trade dispute with the US. The meeting took place as the European Commission considers proposals for Canada to become an associate member of the EU, a move that could grant it benefits such as visa-free travel and access to the European single market.
This potential closer trade relationship with the EU, the world's second-largest economy, comes as Canada's ties with the US have become strained due to ongoing tariff disputes. Canada recently imposed retaliatory duties of up to 50% on various US imports, including cheese, honey, and aluminum foil, in response to US tariffs on Canadian goods. US President Donald Trump has reacted to the EU's proposal by threatening to impose significant tariffs or halt trade with Europe if the plan proceeds, calling it "laughable."
While the UK is no longer part of the EU, Prime Minister Burnham has expressed a desire for closer collaboration with the bloc. The soccer match, which Everton won 1-0, provided a setting for Carney and Burnham to strengthen bilateral ties away from the US, with security requirements leading them to watch from corporate seats rather than the stands.