Canadian finance minister urges closer UK and European ties

Francois-Philippe Champagne said the countries shared a similar “vision” of the world.

Canada’s finance minister has urged the UK to “team up” with Canada and the EU economically, arguing closer partnerships are needed in the face of a changing global political landscape.

Francois-Philippe Champagne said the countries shared a similar “vision” of the world.

He told the BBC: “We need to look at partnership in a different way, and the great thing is that when you look at Canada, and I would say the United Kingdom, we share the same values.

“We are very aligned in our vision of the world. Why don’t we team up?

“We are independent and sovereign, but we are stronger together.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month proposed Canada join the European bloc as an “associate member”.

The proposed associate status does not exist under EU treaties, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledging its role is yet to be defined.

Mr Champagne said: “This is all about the substance, to build an alliance of the future.

“The world has changed. America has changed. So we need to change.” Canada has been seeking to diversify its economic relationships amid heightened tensions with the United States.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York this week, having spoken to each other at least twice on the phone since Mr Burnham entered Downing Street in July.

Mr Carney previously told the European Parliament he welcomed deeper ties in defence, trade, financial services, energy and artificial intelligence.

“We do not seek power to dominate others,” said the former Bank of England governor.

“On the contrary, we are pursuing resilience so that no one can control our open markets, impair our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, our democracies, our rule of law.” He later clarified that Canada would not be seeking full EU membership.