Washington DC - President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to cut trade with the European Union after the bloc proposed to make Canada its first ever associate member.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen raised the prospect of Canada joining the EU as an associate member a day before Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament on Thursday.

"I think it's laughable," Trump told reporters when asked about the plan. "If they do that, if I think it's at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe, on many things."

He added: "If it's a good intention, that's fine. If it's a bad intention, we'll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility."

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Von der Leyen's pitch was mostly centered around cooperation on tech, defense, and energy. It came during her annual "State of the European Union" speech.

She said in Strasbourg that, as democracies face a "fracture in the international rules-based system," Brussels and Ottawa need to pull closer together.

"I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU," she said.

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, von der Leyen spokesperson Olof Gill sought to clarify that the move was not aimed as an attack against the US, but instead as a way to strengthen both the EU and Canada.

"As our president made clear yesterday, the proposed strengthening of our partnership with Canada is not against anyone else, but for our common strength," Gill said.

Carney also became the victim of an attack from America's right, embattled Maine Senator Susan Collins slamming the idea as ruining Ottawa's chances of reforging a positive relationship with Washington.

"That doesn't help rebuild the good relationship that we once had and that I want us to have again," Collins told CBC News on Wednesday.

"I believe that both Canada and the United States should return to the bargaining table. I do not support this tariff war."

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Collins faces a tough reelection campaign against Democrat Troy Jackson, who is narrowly ahead in Maine despite entering the race late following the dramatic implosion of Graham Platner's campaign in July.

"The alliance between Canada and Europe is not defined by what we oppose. It is about what we are for: Freedom, solidarity, prosperity, sustainability," Carney wrote on X after giving a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday.

"Europe and Canada are each strong. Europe and Canada are even stronger together," Carney continued. "An honor to address the European parliament today."