Takeaways by Bloomberg AI
- The European Union and Canada are working toward a new relationship that will range from trade to security, to offset the global power politics dominated by the US and China.
- The discussions are particularly focused on “strategic capabilities,” such as cooperation on defense, space exploration and scientific research, with Canada making a deeper EU partnership a top priority.
- The arrangements will aim to cover all areas of the relationship, including trade, security, supply chains and critical raw materials, with the goal of getting as close as legally possible to EU membership without actually joining.
So, why doesn’t Canada become a full member then?
People have answered pretty well but I’d also come at it from a different angle, the EU also probably wants ways to deepen connections without full blown membership. (Consider the headaches that Orban caused for years.) In an era that looks increasingly like it will be defined by great power rivalry, having the EU create a more nimble sort of partnership than full blown membership could be very attractive to many middle countries (especially in East Asia as countries reassess their security guarantees from America against China’s increasingly bellicose behaviour.)
There would have to be so many exceptions, that its just easier to make separate deals.
Like, take just cars, trucks and trucking, the EU and Canada regulations, requirements and laws are different enough that Canada would have to do some major changes with those alone and it would cost a whole bunch of moneys. Or they’d have to make an exception rule for that.
Stuff like weight, lengths, headlights, headlight heights, truck driver work limits, vehicle/equipment certification process etc would need to be changed. Or given exceptions.
On top of everyone else its just a practical reality. Alberta is already quite estranged from Ottawa as it is, add Brussels to the mix and it will be way worse. And as much as we would like to admit, we have half as much culturally in common with EU as we dont. But extended trade relations? Hell yeah sign us up.
Alberta is only 15% of our GDP (compared to just the city of Toronto at 20%) If I had to pick Alberta with the US, or EU, it would be an easy decision.
Alberta has more oil than the rest of the EU combined and blocks our access to BC. Cutting off our face in spite of our nose. Im also born albertan, raised Ontario, lived in Europe for a decade. Alberta, especially its cities, is still closer to Toronto in culture than the EU is, truth be told. I work in Brussels and still would rather Canada not be EU. Im not alone.
It takes years. It’s unlikely to happen, but if it does, we’re already on the correct path.
Agriculture
