During his trip to Europe, Mark Carney said Canadians were united in resisting outside pressure over their national identity and foreign policy.

"Nobody is going to tell us what language we speak; no one is going to dictate our culture or with whom we can strike agreements internationally," said the Canadian prime minister at the European Parliament on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump has called the idea "laughable," telling reporters on Thursday that he was considering retaliation.

"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," Trump told reporters.