Intro:
Donald Trump warned Canada of sweeping tariffs amid tensions over China ties and shifting global trade alliances dynamics
Washington
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Canada, threatening to impose a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods entering the United States if Ottawa proceeds with a trade deal with China. The threat was delivered through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he cautioned that any such agreement would trigger immediate and severe economic consequences.
In his post, Trump claimed that if Canada were to make a deal with China, it would be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A. However, the former president did not specify the nature of the deal he was referring to, leaving room for ambiguity and speculation. The warning comes shortly after Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a strategic partnership with China, which included agreements to resolve and reduce certain tariffs.
Interestingly, Trump had initially described Canada’s engagement with China as a good thing when the partnership was first announced. Relations between the two countries have since deteriorated, particularly following Carney’s remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he said the US-led global order had been ruptured. Carney also encouraged other middle powers to cooperate against economic coercion by larger nations, comments widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Washington.
Trump responded sharply the following day, asserting that Canada lives because of the United States, a statement that further inflamed diplomatic tensions. He also withdrew an invitation for Canada to participate in his newly announced Board of Peace, signaling a deepening rift.
Trump escalated his rhetoric, accusing Canada of potentially acting as a drop-off port for Chinese goods destined for the US market, an allegation he said would not be tolerated. If Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China… he is sorely mistaken, Trump wrote.
