President Donald Trump has issued a warning that Canada would face a 100% tariff on its exports to the United States if it finalizes a trade agreement with China, reports Baltimore Chronicle. The U.S. leader posted on his social media platform that “If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump did not specify the exact details of the agreement he was referencing, but Canada and China reached a deal last Friday under which Canada would reduce its 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, while China would lower tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural products.
Dominic Leblanc, the Canadian minister overseeing Canada-U.S. trade, clarified on Saturday that Canada is not pursuing a free-trade agreement with China and emphasized the country’s “remarkable partnership” with the United States. “The new Government of Canada is strengthening the Canadian economy through a plan that consolidates our national strength and bolsters our trade partnerships around the world,” Leblanc stated.
This announcement represents the latest tension between Trump and Canada. It follows his recent social media posts criticizing Canada’s stance on the “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative and questioning its trade agreements with China.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking Thursday, rejected Trump’s assertion that Canada relies on the United States. “Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in the economy, in security, and in rich cultural exchange,” Carney said. “But Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.”
Last Friday, Trump was asked about Canada’s increasing engagement with China during Carney’s visit to the country. Trump indicated that he did not oppose Canada signing a trade deal with Beijing, saying, “That’s what he should be doing. It’s a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that.”
In his Saturday post, Trump referred to Carney as “governor” rather than prime minister, a reference he has previously made regarding former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in line with his controversial suggestion that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state. The recent tariff threat follows Trump’s earlier decision to rescind proposed tariffs on European allies who did not support his efforts to acquire Greenland, noting that he and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland.”
Earlier we wrote that Trump Arrives in Switzerland for Davos Despite Air Force One Electrical Issue and Greenland Push
