BRUSSELS — Canada’s Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu has been invited to join his EU counterparts for talks in Dublin at the end of October, his spokesperson confirmed to POLITICO — potentially alongside U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Although Sidhu’s attendance hasn’t been officially confirmed, he is expected to participate in the informal meeting of EU trade ministers, according to his spokesperson, Huzaif Qaisar.
Greer has also been invited, but he too has yet to confirm. The invitations come as the EU walks a tightrope between Washington and Ottawa, seeking closer ties with Canada while avoiding the perception of taking sides in the escalating trade dispute between the two countries. Tensions spiked last week when Canada walked away from talks over what it viewed as U.S. demands that infringed on its sovereignty.
Sidhu has been charged with expanding Canada’s trade with Europe and other countries beyond the U.S., leaving the task of managing relations with Washington to Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc. Sidhu’s expected role is the latest sign that ties between Brussels and Ottawa are deepening.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is due in Strasbourg Sept. 16-17 to attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s landmark State of the Union speech. He will also address the European Parliament. Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s trade chief, also spoke with his Canadian counterpart earlier this week as the two sides look to reach a deal on digital trade.
The informal meeting of EU trade ministers is being organized by the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU and will take place in Dublin Oct. 22-23. It is expected to cover the bloc’s trade relations with “major partners,” according to the agenda. Camille Gijs and Max Griera reported from Brussels.
Zi-Ann Lum reported from Toronto. Stefanie Bolzen reported from Washington.
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