United States President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on all Canadian goods if Canada concludes a trade agreement with China.
Trump issued the warning on Saturday, saying Ottawa would face severe economic consequences should it proceed with what he described as a plan to allow China use Canada as a gateway for exporting goods into the United States.
Relations between the United States and Canada have remained strained since Trump returned to the White House last year, with repeated disagreements over trade and foreign policy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently described the situation as a rupture in the US led global order.
The warning followed Carney’s visit to Beijing last week, where he announced a new strategic partnership with China. The visit produced what Canadian officials described as a preliminary but landmark trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.
Reacting on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Canada of attempting to serve as a drop off port for Chinese goods entering the US market. He warned that China would undermine Canada’s economy, businesses and social structure if such a deal materialised.
Trump stated that any agreement between Canada and China would immediately trigger a 100 percent tariff on all Canadian products crossing into the United States.
The US president also mocked Carney by referring to him as Governor, a remark linked to Trump’s repeated comments suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. Earlier in the week, Trump shared an image online showing Canada, Greenland and Venezuela covered by the American flag.
The exchange followed Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he criticised disruptions to the global order, remarks widely interpreted as a rebuke of Trump’s foreign policy approach. Trump later responded in a separate address and withdrew an invitation for Carney to join his proposed Board of Peace.
