US president Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with “serious tariffs” and a cut to trade after the bloc proposed to make Canada its first ever associate member, calling the idea “laughable”. Suggesting the move was a “hostile act”, the US president told reporters he could put “very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe”. He added: “If it’s a good intention, that’s fine.
If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe.” European Commision president Ursula von der Leyen insisted yesterday that “this is not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength,” and deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill repeated this line this morning in response to Trump’s overnight threats. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney – fresh from watching Everton’s Carabao Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in Liverpool – will address the European parliament late morning. Let’s see if he has anything to say on this.
Separately, our attention is increasingly turning to Germany, where embattled chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to join the campaign trail today in Berlin ahead of this weekend’s two state elections that just could determine his political future. Powerful German state leaders from his party have rallied behind the chancellor as speculation builds that his days in office may be numbered, and he cancelled his trip to the UN general assembly next week. Our Berlin correspondent Deborah Cole will be joining us just after 11am to answer your questions about Merz’s future, the two state elections, and what’s next for Germany.
You can post your questions to her below the line from 9am. It’s Thursday, 17 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
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