By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-22 00:30:50 | Updated at 2026-09-22 01:38:20
1 hour ago
Canada's goods trade with Britain far outweighs that with EU member states, a new report has highlighted - despite Prime Minister Mark Carney's Brussels love-in last week.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced Canada would be offered a new form of membership within the EU at her State of the Union address on September 16.
She said: "I said we must urgently reimagine our partnerships.
"So, I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU."
Now, two graphs, prepared by Facts4EU, Stand for Our Sovereignty and The Campaign for an Independent Britain, and shared exclusively with GB News have highlighted just how bizarre Mrs Von der Leyen's proposition to Canada was.
Lord Redwood, former Secretary of State, told GB News the EU chief's remarks were carelessly made.
He said: "Mrs Von der Leyen over-reaches as she speaks.
"She is just one of five Presidents in the EU, alongside the President of the Council, of the Court, of the Parliament and of the Central Bank.
"She presumes to give an annual State of the Union address as if she were the head of a great nation in the world, elected by voters of the Union.
"Modelling the occasion on the US President's annual address to Congress she seems unaware of the lack of military might, money and democratic mandate to back up her words.
The UK is the second biggest export market for the EU, while Canada is 12th
FACTS4EU
"She moves paper armies and dreams of navies where the US President deploys aircraft carrier fleets and squadrons of stealth planes."
The former Tory minister also described the offer of associate membership as a "meaningless gesture", adding that Canada needs to "watch out" before the EU made a "grab of authority" over the country.
One chart from Facts4EU shows Canada's relative insignificance to the EU in trade terms.
The North American country accounts for €48.8billion in goods exports - a fraction of the UK's €345.4billion.
Canada might be better served by working with Andy Burnham and the UK as a result, Facts4EU suggests in its new report.
The Prime Minister met his Canadian counterpart at an Everton match last week, and the pair are expected to meet again during this week's UN General Assembly.
Mr Carney adopted the team during his time as Governor of the Bank of England - and while serving in the role, he notably claimed Brexit would put the UK into recession.
Britain is Canada's number one goods trade partner after the US - five times that of any individual EU nation
FACTS4EU
As Prime Minister of Canada, he doubled down on his remarks, saying he Britain was now trying to "undo what people didn't think they were voting for, but what they ended up having".
And though Canada's service economy represents 70 to 75 per cent of its GDP, Facts4EU highlights the importance of Britain to Canada's goods market as it closest partner - other than the US.
Britain is Canada's number one goods trade partner after the US, and its trade is worth five times that of any individual EU nation.
Mr Carney has been embroiled in a furious trade war with Donald Trump and has pushed hard to tighten bonds with other allies.
Canada and EU trade discussions first began 22 years ago and resulted in the the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in 2017.
The agreement was provisionally agreed, but 10 EU member states have still not ratified the trade deal - Cyprus went as far as to vote against it.
Some have also proposed an alliance between Canada, the UK and New Zealand - all Commonwealth realms with one King which could form a new international partnership as "Canzuk".
Ursula von der Leyen offered Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, the chance to become an 'associate member of the EU'
REUTERS
Lord Redwood also told GB News Mrs Von der Leyen had a "scary vision" of the EU after she seemingly equated "anti-Europeans" to "Russian interference interference or disinformation".
He said: "So she equates democratic parties in the EU opposing freedom of movement and illegal migration, and those opposed to the EU's extreme Net Zero dear energy policies, as a serious threat like Russia.
"She wants to stop them winning elections and is out to stifle their views.
"Meanwhile she ups the rhetoric against Russian aggression and illegal actions without having any military forces to help Ukraine battle against the invader.
"Mrs Von der Leyen may make both her problems worse by using provocative language without having the means to defeat the evils she sees.
"She needs to learn the difference between democratic parties pursuing real worries, and an invading force from a country in border disputes with the EU."
