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European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says such a partnership is for the European Union’s ‘common strength’ Thu 17 Sep 2026 09.40 CEST Last modified on Thu 17 Sep 2026 09.41 CEST Donald Trump and Mark Carney Photograph: Saul Loeb,andrej Ivanov/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump and Mark Carney Photograph: Saul Loeb,andrej Ivanov/AFP/Getty Images From 8m ago Morning opening: Trump threatens Europe, again Jakub Krupa 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.
Mark Carney and Andy Burnham before the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, England. Photograph: Tony McArdle/Everton FC/Getty Images 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. German chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a meeting of the German government’s cabinet in Berlin, Germany.
Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA 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.
Lots for us to cover today. It’s Thursday, 17 September 2026 , it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live . Good morning.
Key events 8m ago Morning opening: Trump threatens Europe, again Most viewed Most viewed
Source: The Guardian
