18 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Oh my, not just Europe...

And I bet Canada's “deals on the table“ materialize, unlike those Trump is always saying are two weeks away but never happen.

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Canuck propaganda. Loved by the dumb.

On 9/18/2026 at 12:34 PM, candide said:

It should be remembered that there is no precise definition of "associate member". At this point, it's mainly a concept.

I'm sure they'll think up something.

35 minutes ago, candide said:

And it's not like the concept of associate member would have been proposed in 2023, 3 years after Brexit and 3 years before the current OP news! 🤣

https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-26/France-and-Germany-propose-new-multi-tier-European-Union-1noBaS7T9Wo/index.html

Yes. I did see that (or similar) at the time, thanks. Seven years after the UK referendum by then, of course. Now the Swiss may have their highly complex "Bilateral III" package. Maybe. After another referendum in 2028.

VDL & Co. still trying to grow their prize onion at any cost, by any means, to show at the harvest festival. Four tiers? Canada might get a special deal at tier 3 1/2? This onion is a joke and even more likely to end in real tears now.

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

Why is Trump on the poster?

Oh, the midterms....

Trump is on the poster with everybody he's made deals he's made deals with. Oops, there's nobody there

17 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Trump is on the poster with everybody he's made deals he's made deals with. Oops, there's nobody there

F

On 9/17/2026 at 2:33 PM, Yellowtail said:

I think it's great that Canada is finally cutting ties with the US. Once they are out from under the thumb of the capitalist pigs, they should build a wall immediately and pull all the work permits from US citizens.

They aren't. It's just postering till Trump leaves in a few years or becomes a lame duck in a few months time.

12 hours ago, nauseus said:

Exactly! Strange that this "associate membership" status has just appeared out of nowhere - nothing like this came up when the UK was trying to find a way out. I bet VDL doesn't even know what it even is yet. It sounds like the EU is doing the cherry-picking that it accused the UK of 10 years ago.

The UK was asked, "What deal do you want?" and the reply was all the benefits of EU membership e.g. access to the Single Market and Customs Union but none of the obligations e.g. financial contributions and being bound by EU legislation. Unsurprisingly, this 'cherry picking' was rejected by the EU and its member states.

However, you are correct about one thing: At the moment, 'Associate Membership' is effectively nothing more than a label.

Once Carney stood up to him look what happened.

1 hour ago, gargamon said:

Once Carney stood up to him look what happened.

Another blackboard but whom oved the chalk??

3 hours ago, nauseus said:

Another blackboard but whom oved the chalk??

More “truth“ there than anything coming out of Trump's mouth.