According to Carney’s office, the leaders spoke Monday about “ongoing discussions” between the EU and members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, as well as Canada–Britain economic and defense cooperation. The talks covered critical minerals and what the statement described as “sovereign AI infrastructure.”
Some media reports say the conversation aligns with a broader initiative by Carney to link the EU with the 12 CPTPP countries into what sources cited by Politico have described as an “anti-Trump” economic bloc. Politico reported that Carney used that term in January when discussing the idea privately.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Carney said Canada was taking part in “efforts to build bridges between the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union.”
Politico also reported that Canada’s representative to the EU, John Hannaford, discussed the concept in Singapore this month, with Canadian sources saying the talks “are beginning to yield results” and that discussions with partners have been productive. EU officials confirmed talks were underway but said they were not among the bloc’s top priorities.
Business groups including the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Chambers of Commerce have voiced support for closer cooperation between the EU and CPTPP, Politico reported.
The CPTPP links Canada with Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, with Britain joining in December 2024. Together, the EU and CPTPP would represent more than 1.5 billion consumers.
Canadian officials view the Indo-Pacific as a key element of the country’s defense industry strategy, which media reports say aims to reduce reliance on U.S. suppliers and expand partnerships with Europe and Indo-Pacific nations where domestic capacity is limited.
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Source: PAP