Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to address the EU in Strasbourg, shortly after von der Leyen’s proposal was made, was “to build the alliance of the future”, Champagne said.

Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, has previously talked about an alliance of “middle powers” working together on economic growth, resilience and security.

Champagne told the BBC that the UK and Canada had shared values.

“We need to look at partnership in a different way and the great thing is that when you look at Canada – and I would say the United Kingdom – we share the same values. We are very aligned in our vision of the world. Why don’t we team up?” he said.

“We are independent and sovereign, but we are stronger together.”

After his return to the White House last year, US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping global tariffs, including on long-standing trade allies such as the UK.

While the UK renegotiated a trade deal with the US in June last year, the new Canada-EU alliance does raise questions for the UK’s post-Brexit positioning with Europe, as well as its position with the US, after some changes of presidential rhetoric over the Falklands and Irish unity in recent weeks.

Carney met Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Liverpool in the middle of his trip to Brussels and Strasbourg last week, while Champagne attended a meeting of EU finance ministers in Dublin on Friday, alongside Chancellor John Healey.