FOCUS 1 - Germany and Canada join forces at the Hanover Trade Fair

Reuters FOCUS 1 - Germany and Canada join forces at the Hanover Trade Fair Andreas Rinke • 6 hours • 3 minutes read Hanover, March 30 (Reuters) - Germany and Canada demonstrated solidarity at the opening of the Hanover Trade Fair in the face of ongoing threats from the United States and promoted free trade. "Canada is not just anyone's federal state. Canada is a proud, independent nation," the SPD politician said Sunday evening at the opening of the trade fair in Hanover. "We knew we valued each other. But now we know we need each other," said Stéphane Dion, Canada's Special Representative for the European Union and Europe. Dion, who is ambassador to France and previously worked in Germany, represented the new Canadian Prime Minister Matt Carney, who is currently campaigning. US President Donald Trump's repeated threats, including against allies, have overshadowed relations with Washington for weeks. Trump has laid claim to Canada and Greenland, which belongs to EU and NATO partner Denmark, and imposed punitive import tariffs on the US's northern neighbor, Canada, as well as the EU and other states. In Canada, this has led to harsh sanctions against the US. The EU has announced that it will also respond with countermeasures. "We stand by your side," the Chancellor added pointedly in English to the ambassador. Canada has friends all over the world – and especially many of them here in Germany and Europe. Scholz pointed out that it is very unusual for neighbors, allies, and G7 partners to have to emphasize their desire for independence. Prime Minister Mark Carney, he said, was forced to reassure the US even before taking office that Canada would "never, in any form, be a part of the US." "These are statements that also concern us here in Europe," the Chancellor added. Research Minister Cem Özdemir (Green Party) also criticized Trump's repeated statements in Hanover that Canada should become the 51st state of the USA. "Canada is an independent country where the people of Canada decide what happens with their future, but no one else, please," he said. CLOSER ECONOMIC RELATIONS PLANNED Scholz pointed out that Trump's tariff policy is damaging everyone, including the USA itself. The EU will respond to the tariffs, but must conclude more and more rapid free trade agreements with other partners around the world. "That is the right response at this time," Scholz said. Germany has already ratified the EU free trade agreement with this year's guest country, Canada. "We hope that it will soon be finally ratified by all (EU) states," he added. "Since the CETA-EU agreement with Canada came into force in 2017 alone, trade in goods between us has increased by more than 50 percent. And I'm sure it will continue to rise soon – I call it the 'Hanover Effect,'" Scholz said. Canada is represented by 220 companies at the world's largest industrial trade fair, with a total of 4,000 exhibitors – according to Ambassador Dion, the largest trade fair presence the country has ever had. He described his homeland as "the most European non-European country," with a wealth of resources and many high-tech companies. The Chancellor also described the economies of both countries as ideal partners and quoted former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said that Canada has all the raw materials that Russia also has – but is a democracy and a constitutional state. REFRESHED CRITICISM OF THE PUNITIVE TARIFFS Scholz renewed his criticism of the punitive tariffs imposed by the US, for example, on imported cars. "We know that free world trade, which has created so much prosperity, is at risk because political movements of protectionism are becoming fashionable all over the world," said the SPD politician. This leads to only losers. The position of the German government and the EU is: "We will continue to advocate for fair world trade." This is particularly important for the USA. "Therefore, it is also clear that we as the European Union will react to the United States' tariff policy," warned Scholz. At the same time, the EU is committed "at all times and at all times" to a compromise of cooperation. "Cooperation, clarity, and strength are needed here simultaneously," said the Chancellor. The EU is open, but not naive.