European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed opening the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member,” a significant step that could bring Ottawa substantially closer to the bloc as its trade dispute with the U.S. shows no signs of abating.

Speaking in Strasbourg during her annual State of the European Union address, von der Leyen addressed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was in the chamber, and called for a major expansion of economic, technological and security cooperation between Canada and the EU.

“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first…

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