The UK should join a proposed economic alliance between Canada and Europe, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has said, describing the two countries as natural partners in a changing world.
"This is all about the substance, to build an alliance of the future," Champagne told the BBC. "The world has changed. America has changed. So we need to change."
The comments follow European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to open the door to associate EU membership for Canada — an unprecedented move for the bloc. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Strasbourg to address the EU shortly after the proposal was made, which Champagne said was "to build the alliance of the future."
Champagne also gave a frank assessment of the Canada-US trade war after a deal collapsed last month, saying Canada had "stood up for our industries, our workers, our country" by imposing tariffs.
"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?" he said.
"We are independent and sovereign, but we are stronger together."
Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, has previously spoken about an alliance of "middle powers" working together on economic growth, resilience and security. The UK has not yet responded formally to the proposal.