Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen argued Thursday in Montreal for making Canada the bloc’s first “associate member” and building a broader alliance open to other countries, warning against economic coercion in Trump’s trade war, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Trump suggested the arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe — von der Leyen said Canada cannot become a full member because of geography, but both sides want to bring the relationship to the highest level possible.