{"text":[[{"start":8.32,"text":"EU capitals have given a cool reception to Canada’s bid to be granted a “unique alliance” with the bloc, deflating Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pitch for “middle powers” to close ranks against the US and China."}],[{"start":20.88,"text":"Carney, who is visiting France and the UK this week, in an interview with the FT urged Europe to deepen its economic alliance with Canada after previously floating the idea of “associate membership” for his country."}],[{"start":33.42,"text":"But his charm offensive has failed to sway governments wary of giving Ottawa preferential trade access, according to five EU diplomats involved in the talks."}],[{"start":41.8,"text":"Instead, the sceptics have countered that Canada could instead be offered better implementation of existing agreements, the diplomats said. There is also consensus about the bloc intensifying its collaboration with Canadian arms makers and critical mineral mining companies."}],[{"start":56.56,"text":"“We love the Canadians but everyone is very realistic about what’s possible and what’s not,” said one EU diplomat. “Saying ‘everything but membership’ sounds good, but came across as not really thought through,” they added. “But I don’t fault [Carney] for trying.”"}],[{"start":74.08,"text":"Another diplomat said concerns over how US President Donald Trump might react to a significantly enhanced relationship with Canada were also influencing some EU capitals. Countries that rely on Nato protection in the face of Russian threats, such as the Baltics, were especially concerned, said a third diplomat."}],[{"start":88.56,"text":"“Of all the third countries, Canada is one of the few that we all want to get closer to right now,” said a fourth diplomat. “But even with them, we all know we have to be careful when you start talking about trade access and preferential treatment.”"}],[{"start":102.44,"text":"Carney has pitched himself as a geopolitical lightning rod for western liberal democratic collaboration to protect multilateral bodies threatened by the Trump administration’s aggressive foreign policy. Canada is one of just two countries — alongside China — to impose retaliatory tariffs on the US in response to Trump’s trade war."}],[{"start":120.36,"text":"As part of his campaign to woo the EU, the Canadian premier will attend the annual State of the Union speech by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg on Wednesday, and deliver his own address to the European parliament on Thursday."}],[{"start":135.68,"text":"Carney had coined the term “middle powers” in a speech to the Davos event this January and said they had to coalesce to withstand superpowers such as China and the US. Von der Leyen has broadly endorsed the same concept."}],[{"start":149.4,"text":"But at last week’s meeting of ambassadors from EU member states to prepare for Carney’s visit, one remarked that the bloc was “not a ‘middle power’” and the much smaller Canada should not expect any special treatment, according to people briefed on the exchange."}],[{"start":163.32,"text":"“Many capitals feel that there needs to be a bit of a sense of realism,” said a fifth diplomat. He pointed to the fact that 10 countries, including France and Italy, have yet to ratify Canada’s 2017 free trade deal with the EU (Ceta), which was held up over objections from several national assemblies to provisions that would give Canadian investors more rights to sue governments and to lower tariffs for agricultural goods."}],[{"start":188.48,"text":"In his interview with the FT, Carney notably moderated his aspirations, asking for the 10 EU countries to ratify Ceta."}],[{"start":196.68,"text":"The deal is in force provisionally, meaning most of its provisions — including tariff cuts, customs rules and market access for goods and services — already apply."}],[{"start":206.28,"text":"But full ratification is looking increasingly uncertain: France faces presidential elections, while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni may have to strike an alliance with a far-right nationalist ahead of next year’s general election, dimming the prospects for approval in two of the EU’s largest member states."}],[{"start":222.6,"text":"A gap in rules and standards has also dimmed prospects for closer Canada-EU alignment, particularly given the pull of the US market. The EU accounts for less than 6 per cent of Canadian goods exports, limiting the scope for deeper trade ties."}],[{"start":237.44,"text":"Beef is a case in point. Canada exports none to the EU despite a low-tariff quota under Ceta because its producers use growth hormones that are banned under the bloc’s rules."}],[{"start":248.16,"text":"Many trade irritants remain. The EU wants Canada to drop its tariffs on EU steel and some products such as nails. It also wants it to water down “Buy Canadian” rules that favour domestic production over imports."}],[{"start":261.12,"text":"Ottawa is similarly unhappy with the EU’s proposed “made in Europe” policy and its environmental regulations that will raise costs for critical exports such as lumber and aluminium."}],[{"start":271.24,"text":"The two sides hope to conclude a digital trade agreement before an October 29-30 summit in Montreal."}],[{"start":277.32,"text":"But EU countries are aware that many regulations are set at provincial level in Canada, making it hard for the federal government to deliver promised changes."}],[{"start":290.15,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1789536109_5913.mp3"}