This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The prime minister of Canada has told the UK that striking trade deals from outside the EU is neither easy nor automatic, after leave campaigners argued his country was a potential model for Britain if it left the union.

Justin Trudeau poured cold water on the suggestion that the UK should follow the “Canadian model” when he argued it would be better off within the EU.

Boris Johnson, the former London mayor and prominent leave campaigner, had held up Canada as example of a country that had recently struck a trade deal with the US. However, it had taken about seven years and the deal was still not implemented.

Asked about the comparisons on trade, Trudeau told Reuters: “There’s nothing easy or automatic about that, so I think there’s a bit of an oversimplification of the story happening there.”

He echoed the claims of the US president, Barack Obama, that the UK would have a stronger voice in the world as part of the EU.

“Britain is always going to have clout, it’s just obviously amplified by its strength as part of the EU,” he said. “I believe we’re always better when we work as closely as possible together, and separatism, or division, doesn’t seem to be a productive path for countries.

“More unity is a path toward greater prosperity. We have a great relationship with a strong and united Europe and certainly hope that that continues.”

The official Britain Stronger in Europe campaign said Trudeau joined the US, Australia, China, India, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, Norway and Japan, among others, in backing their view that Britain was best off in the EU.

But leave campaigners have said the support has been orchestrated by No 10, with Johnson describing the powerful figures lining up to back Cameron as people appearing in “Downing Street hostage videos”.

Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of former British colonies and considers the UK to be one of its closest allies.

Betting odds on Thursday indicated the highest chance to date of Britain voting to stay in the EU, with the implied probability of a vote for continued membership rising to as high as 83%.