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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on Cyprus and nine other EU member states to ratify the European Union’s trade agreement with Canada, as Ottawa looks to strengthen its economic and political links with Europe while relations with Washington continue to deteriorate.
The appeal puts Cyprus among a group of 10 EU countries that have still not completed the national ratification process for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the EU.
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovenia are the remaining countries yet to ratify the agreement.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Carney described CETA as a positive arrangement for both sides and urged the outstanding EU governments to complete the process. He argued that stronger commercial links between Canada and Europe could help both sides become more economically secure and less dependent on individual trading partners.
CETA has been provisionally applied since 2017, meaning much of the agreement is already in effect. However, full implementation requires ratification by all EU member states.
For Cyprus, the agreement covers trade relations between the island and Canada as part of the EU’s common trade framework. The unresolved ratification process reflects concerns in some EU countries, particularly over the potential impact of increased Canadian agricultural imports on European farmers.
Carney's request comes as Canada reassesses its relationship with the United States following a sharp deterioration in trade relations.
US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 50 per cent tariff on certain Canadian products in August, with affected goods including cars, alcohol and dairy products. Trump has also repeatedly suggested that Canada could become the United States' 51st state and ordered Lake Ontario to be referred to as "Lake America".
With the US relationship under strain, Ottawa has been seeking stronger partnerships in Europe.
Canada and EU officials are also discussing cooperation in areas including critical minerals, education, digital infrastructure and Arctic security. A meeting in Montreal next month is expected to advance those discussions.
Carney is due to address the European Parliament on Thursday, where he is expected to present Canada as a dependable European partner at a time when its traditionally close relationship with the United States is becoming increasingly difficult.
The Canadian government sees the European relationship as part of a strategy to build more reliable economic and strategic partnerships. Carney has argued that stronger Canada-EU links could provide both sides with greater resilience and economic independence in an increasingly uncertain international trading environment.
