Canada can learn some hard lessons from Brexit as it pivots to the EU

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNews Canada can learn some hard lessons from Brexit as it pivots to the EU Brexit scholar Anand Menon says closer ties with Europe cannot replace Canada’s economic relationship with the U.S. Author of the article: By Tracy Moran Published Sep 16, 2026 10 minute read Join the conversation Prime Minister Mark Carney smiles as he listens to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivering a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France on September 16, 2026. PHOTO BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN /AFP via Getty Images Article content European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union on Wednesday revealed that the European Union is opening the door for Canada to become its first associate member. Article content That news came just days after Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke of forging a “unique alliance” with the bloc. To separate the geopolitical symbolism of the EU’s invitation from the economic constraints that would limit any attempt to make Europe a substitute for the United States, National Post spoke with Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College London and director of the UK in a Changing Europe initiative, about the lessons Canada might take from the United Kingdom’s Brexit experience. Article content Article content Article content Menon has spent years looking at the U.K.’s relationship with the EU, Brexit’s political economy, and the trade-off between sovereignty and market access — the same issues raised by von der Leyen’s associate-member overture to Canada. Article content NP Posted Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content This Q&A has been condensed and edited for clarity. Article content Q: Brexit was sold partly as a way for Britain to expand trade beyond Europe. What did Britain get wrong about diversification that Canada should avoid as it looks beyond the United States? Article content Anand Menon: Bear in mind, the vast majority of Canada’s trade is still with the United States and will be, because that’s the key lesson, isn’t it? That geography is the major determinant of trade patterns, and you trade a lot more…